Former Scotland skipper Greig Laidlaw to step down as Urayasu D-Rocks boss – Gatland tipped for shock return
Former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is set to call time on his stint as head coach of Japanese side Urayasu D-Rocks – and reports suggest Warren Gatland is in line to replace him.
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According to RugbyJP.com, Gatland – the ex-Wales and British & Irish Lions supremo – has been approached to take over from Laidlaw, who only took the reins last season.
Laidlaw, 38, won 76 caps for Scotland between 2010 and 2019, bowing out from international duty after the Rugby World Cup in Japan. He joined the Shining Arcs (as the club was then known) in 2020, before moving into coaching three years later.
When appointed last summer, Laidlaw became the youngest head coach in the league, succeeding South African Johan Ackermann. However, it proved a tough campaign – just three wins from 18 matches – with survival only secured via a nail-biting play-off win over Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
RUCK understands Laidlaw could be heading back to Scotland, potentially linking up with Gregor Townsend’s coaching team for the Autumn Nations Series after defence coach Steve Tandy’s switch to Wales.
If Gatland does get the nod in Japan, it would mark his first permanent gig since stepping down as Wales boss earlier this year following a 14-match winless streak. The 61-year-old Kiwi most recently acted as an advisor to Uruguayan side Peñarol, helping them to the Super Rugby Americas title in June.
EDITORS PICKS:
On this day 10 years ago, England snatched the Rugby World Cup on Aussie soil. Let’s dive into what those legends got up to since lifting the Webb Ellis.
15. Josh Lewsey – The Everest Attempting Ex-Soldier
Full-back Lewsey was a British Army officer before turning pro rugby after just two years of service. When he hung up his boots in 2009, whispers floated he might return to the forces. Instead, he aimed higher—literally—attempting Everest, but a faulty oxygen apparatus stopped him 500 feet from the summit. Afterward, he jumped into finance at PwC and CitiGroup. But the rugby bug bit again, and in 2023 he returned as acting CEO of the Cornish Pirates before becoming Welsh Rugby Union’s Head of Rugby. Fun fact: He’s half Welsh, so this return was kind of homecoming.
14. Jason Robinson – Wing Wizard & Sheep Farmer?
Robinson, cross-code star and scorer of England’s sole try in the final, retired from rugby union in 2007 but never quite stepped off the pitch scene. He coached for the Rugby Football League and Sale Sharks, dabbled in sheep farming (yes, seriously), and even returned briefly to playing with a local team. These days he’s focused on his own high-performance sports apparel line, ‘Proskins.’ Versatile on and off the field!
13. Will Greenwood – Inside Centre with a Media Makeover
Retiring in 2006, Greenwood has arguably enjoyed a second career in the media spotlight. He writes columns, analyses games on TV, appears in adverts, and is a popular figure on the after-dinner circuit. But his biggest claim to fame now? Hosting School of Hard Knocks on Sky Sports, a show tackling social inclusion by using rugby to inspire youth in deprived areas.
12. Mike Tindall – Royalty, Rugby, and Rowdiness
Tindall’s best known to the general public as Princess Zara Phillips’ husband, but he’s still very much in the game, playing for Gloucester and coaching youngsters. His England career ended post-2011 World Cup—marred by controversy after being fined £15,000 for throwing a dwarf in a bar (a bizarre incident dubbed ‘dwarf-gate’). He now co-hosts the very successful The Good, The Bad and The Rugby Podcast.
11. Ben Cohen – The 6’2” Gay Icon & Dancing Star
Retired in 2023, Cohen had already founded the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation to fight bullying, focusing heavily on combating homophobic abuse. His advocacy has earned him ‘Ally of the Year’ from gay magazine Attitude—pretty impressive for a 6’2” ex-winger! He’s also a fan favorite on Strictly Come Dancing, proving his moves aren’t limited to the rugby pitch.
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