Warren Gatland: Wales coach to stay on for 2025 Six Nations
The WRU announced a review of performances under Tierney following defeats to Fiji, Australia and South Africa in the autumn.
Tierney presented the findings of the review to a WRU board meeting this week.
Although Gatland remains in charge, the New Zealander has been warned that his performance will be further reviewed after the game.
“I’ve had many honest conversations with Warren, and I’ve made no secret of the fact that his position is in jeopardy as we proceed through this review,” Tierney said.
“Beyond that, like any head coach in any sport, he knows the security of his position is directly tied to the performance of his team and that will continue to intensify.
“There is a serious challenge ahead, but Warren is ready to meet it. We also believe he has the ability to handle it.”
Tierney said the WRU board considered larger immediate changes but concluded challenging Gatland to change Wales’ fortunes on the pitch was the best approach.
“We evaluated in detail the planning and preparation, the contributing and controllable factors of coaching responsibilities and the culture of training camp, the mental fortitude of the players, their experiences to date and their own heartfelt thoughts on the future direction of travel for the team,” Tierney said.
“We have gathered expertise and opinions from a variety of reputable and knowledgeable sources, and we have seen the sentiment expressed by many experts and fans that we are currently not living up to our potential.”
