Warren Gatland FIRES BACK at Media, Wales Exit & Why He’ll Never Coach All Blacks

Dom Harvey

Episode Description

Warren Gatland joins us for his first ever New Zealand podcast, and he doesn’t hold back!

Warren is one of the true greats of New Zealand rugby and one of the game’s most respected coaches worldwide.

But his story is as much (if not more) about family, resilience, and perspective as it is about rugby.

In this podcast exclusive Warren opens up about:

+ Why he walked away from Wales earlier this year and what life looks like now.

+ The importance of family and the heartbreaking story of losing his first child at 4 months old.

+ The toughest conversations of his coaching career

+ What he’s most proud of, what keeps him grounded, and how he defines happiness today. And why he doubts he will ever coach the All Blacks.

This is Warren Gatland as you’ve never heard him before: thoughtful, funny, emotional, and deeply honest.

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00:00 Warren Gatland’s first NZ podcast 👀 01:20 Life after Wales: “I don’t need this in my life” 02:15 Fiji dives & family bliss 03:20 The Lions “shopping bet” with Gabby 04:35 Bryn’s pranks & Dad naps 😂 06:43 “Big Much”: the Gatland family code 09:09 Secret family phrases (and what they mean) 10:45 How Warren met Trudy (and why he’d be canceled today) 13:40 Sacrifices of a rugby life 15:32 When Gabby defended Dad on socials 17:57 Bachelor life in Wales & Sunday loneliness 20:21 Shawna: the loss that reshaped his coaching 25:16 Grief, healing, and perspective 29:56 A hugging family in a tough sport 32:18 Christmas in Japan (and bidet chat) 33:12 The ultra-competitive kid who loved cricket 35:55 Waikato years: glory, grit, legends 39:29 Why Waikato fans are different 41:50 Why Lions Tours must never be shrunk 44:14 Becoming an All Black (old-school announcement vibes) 46:38 Not picked? How to respond like a pro 48:47 Lessons from Fitzpatrick (rivals & respect) 51:10 Three coaches who shaped him 53:10 Proudest All Black moments 55:11 “Dirty Dirties” explained 🍻 57:38 From player instincts to coach IQ 59:57 Why he walked from Wales (media vs. reality) 62:35 Welsh rugby’s deeper problems 64:33 Steve Hansen, the 2017 draw & that photo 66:17 No agent. No CV. Still winning. 70:35 Uruguay cameo: giving back to the game 72:59 Hardest chat ever: dropping Brian O’Driscoll 75:18 Controlling the narrative (and when it backfires) 77:30 2011 final take that angered Kiwis 79:55 Media then vs now: what changed 82:03 The Herald clown nose saga 🤡 86:25 When criticism hits the family 90:20 The romance of the Lions (bigger than winning) 92:25 Wales love story: 12 years & “Gatland’s Gate” 94:09 What he’s proudest of with Wales 96:30 World Cups: luck, lessons, and timing 99:14 Turning chaos into an edge 101:40 Legacy: the straight-up coach 104:20 Reconnecting with mates (post-grind life) 107:07 Still too competitive? (Ping-pong & golf) 110:35 Happiness now: simple days, fewer worries 113:07 Chef Gatland’s prawn linguine 🍝 115:47 Grandad mode: obsessed with milestones 119:15 How he wants the grandkids to see him 121:20 Public perception vs private reality 123:53 Last time he cried (and why) 125:20 What he fears—and hopes—next 127:18 Regrets? Not really. 129:47 Three words his family would use 131:18 Is Warren Gatland proud of himself? 134:00 Final reflections & thanks

Brief Summary

Warren Gatland discusses his coaching career, family life, and the impact of loss on his perspective.

Key points

  • Family Connections. Gatland shares heartwarming family moments and the unique language they share.
  • The Sacrifices of Sport. Warren Gatland reflects on the personal sacrifices made for success in sports.
  • The Impact of Loss. Gatland shares the profound impact of losing his firstborn, Shauna, on his life and coaching.
  • The Greatest WA Rugby Team. Reflecting on the 1992 rugby team’s achievements and legacy.
  • The Importance of Lions Tours. Discussing the significance of Lions tours for rugby and its fans.
  • Proudest Moment as an All Black. Reflecting on the honor of being selected for the All Blacks.

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