Wales gamble on return of Gatland to revive World Cup hopes

Warren Gatland was dramatically drafted in for a second spell as Wales coach on Monday as he replaced the sacked Wayne Pivac less than a year out from the World Cup.

The Welsh Rugby Union said Gatland will take charge of Wales for the 2023 Six Nations and at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, "with the ability to go through the next World Cup cycle up to and including Australia 2027".

Pivac's exit was confirmed following a WRU review of Wales' Autumn Nations Series campaign that included a shock home loss to Georgia.

Wales won just 13 of 34 Tests under 60-year-old Pivac -- though he guided them to the 2021 Six Nations title -- after he succeeded fellow New Zealander Gatland following the 2019 World Cup.

In Gatland's first spell in charge, from 2008-19, he presided over one of Wales' most successful eras, with the team winning four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams, and reaching two World Cup semi-finals.

He stepped down after taking Wales to the last four at Japan 2019, with Gatland saying at the time: "It would break my heart if Wales went back into the doldrums."

The 59-year-old, also a former three-time British and Irish Lions head coach, will return to Wales before Christmas from New Zealand, where he was director of rugby at Super Rugby side the Chiefs.

Gatland said of his return to Wales in a WRU statement: "This is an opportunity to achieve something with a talented group of players in a country so passionate about rugby.

"Our immediate priority is obviously the 2023 Guinness Six Nations and next year's Rugby World Cup.

He added: "We will value and respect each other, we will work hard and, if we get this right together, performances and results will follow."

While July saw Wales beat the Springboks for the