Franco Smith is surprisingly direct when addressing Wales links

Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith has said that he would “like to coach international rugby again” amid links with the Wales head coach job following Warren Gatland’s departure.

Wales are on the hunt for a permanent head coach for the summer, with Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt overseeing the team in the interim until the Guinness Six Nations ends.

The Warriors boss, who led his side to the United Rugby Championship title last year, is one of the front-runners to land the job, despite being contracted to his club until 2026.

Prising the South African away from Scotstoun could cost the Welsh Rugby Union up to six figures, but he admitted recently that it is “most coaches’ dream” to coach at an international level, hinting at a possible return to the Test arena.

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Speaking after Glasgow’s 20-45 victory over Dragons on Sunday, Smith was not willing to simply dismiss the idea of taking the reins at Wales, and gave enough to leave many Welsh fans excited.

“I would like to coach international rugby again,” he said when speaking to Premier Sports. “I think most coaches’ dream of it. For now, I’m just focussing on what’s got to be done today. Obviously I’m still under contract with the Glasgow Warriors, but you never know.”

A move to Wales would be Smith’s second spell in international rugby having been involved with Italy both as a head coach and head of high performance between 2019 and 2022.

The 52-year-old was recently credited with bringing through the current crop of young Italian players that are excelling by former South Africa and Italy head coach Nick Mallett.

“I feel sorry for Franco Smith,” Mallet said on RugbyPass TV’s Boks Office. “When he was head coach of Italy, he brought through a lot of these young guys but they were just too young. He was trying to get them to play a positive style of rugby, and they were getting some big points – 50, 60.”

Smith insisted that he remains focussed on the task at hand, however, which next involves a visit from the Ospreys on March 1.