Six Nations: Hansen takes charge of Wales

New Zealander Steve Hansen today took over as Wales coach for the remainder of this season’s Six Nations campaign.

Hansen has stepped into the hotseat after Graham Henry and the Welsh Rugby Union parted company following crisis talks last night.

Hansen’s immediate task will be to prepare Wales for the daunting Six Nations clash with France in Cardiff on Saturday week.

He will also be at the helm for Tests against Italy, Six Nations champions England and Scotland.

Hansen was paraded at a Millennium Stadium press conference this lunchtime when WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths explained the reasons behind Henry’s departure after three-and-a-half years in charge.

The 55-year-old Kiwi had some 20 months remaining on a five-year contract worth more than £1m (€1.6m) but a humiliating 54-10 Six Nations defeat against Ireland in Dublin on Sunday put him under huge pressure and it was the result that sparked his departure.

Henry gave his view of events in a prepared written statement, which was read out at today’s press conference by WRU secretary Dennis Gethin.

The statement read: ‘‘It has been an incredible three-and-a-half-year journey for both myself and my wife Raewyn, since we left New Zealand to come to Wales.

‘‘It has been an experience like nothing I ever imagined and one I would never have missed for the world.

‘‘Wales offered me the chance to coach at the highest level, and I have fully enjoyed the challenge. There is so much passion and commitment in Welsh rugby, and Wales as a whole, and it really has been a pleasure for me to be the national coach of Wales.

‘‘The support for the team, and myself, still appears as strong as ever, but in the light of recent results I have had to take a good look at myself in the mirror and ask myself some hard questions.

‘‘I still think that I am a good coach but I don’t think I am coaching as well as I can.

‘‘The intensity of the rugby that Wales and the Lions have played since I arrived, as well as the all-consuming nature of the job I came into, I believe has led to a burn-out factor in my coaching.’’