Wales rugby

Gatland will take charge for next year's Six Nations and Rugby World Cup, and potentially the 2027 tournament.

The decision follows a Welsh Rugby Union review into a dismal autumn campaign, which included a first loss to Georgia.

Former Scarlets coach Pivac took over from fellow New Zealander Gatland after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

But during the 60-year-old's final year in charge, Wales only won three out of 12 games.

Hardy scored a try before limping off at the Principality Stadium in the second half of the 40-24 victory.

Wales are confident Cardiff Blues' Tomos Williams will be fit again after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening victory against Ireland.

Wales hope fly-half Dan Biggar will be fit to face Italy on 13 March.

The Northampton half-back limped off against England and was replaced by Callum Sheedy who produced an impressive 13-point performance. Wales will find out next week if Biggar will be available.

The All Blacks were due to play two matches against against Wales in Auckland on 4 July and in Wellington on 11 July; and a one-off Test against Scotland in Dunedin on 18 July.

But New Zealand Rugby confirmed tonight that the games have now been postponed after a World Rugby meeting looking at the impact of Covid-19 on the global game.

A Black Ferns Test against the USA Test, part of a double header in Dunedin, has also been postponed.

The Welsh, who still have to complete their Six Nations campaign, are scheduled to play Japan on June 27 and then two tests against the All Blacks on July 4 and 11.

"It does seem unlikely and, as each day and each week goes by, that seems more and more the case," Pivac said.

"But until it is called off, or postponed, we have to prepare as if it's going ahead and that's certainly what we are doing."

The Scarlets number 10 suffered a third concussion in 12 months during Wales’ 19-10 defeat against Ireland in Dublin.

He went off midway through the first half following an attempted tackle on Ireland back-row forward CJ Stander.

It was Patchell’s first Test start since June last year when he starred with a 20-point haul against Argentina in Santa Fe.

He is one of two fly-halves in Wales head coach Warren Gatland’s 31-man squad for Japan, having edged out Jarrod Evans to secure a place alongside Dan Biggar.

Wales convincingly beat defending champions Ireland 25-7 in Cardiff at the weekend to claim the Grand Slam and a first Six Nations triumph since 2013, and Warburton says the side now have no peer, bar, perhaps, New Zealand.

"Wales deserved to win this and it sets them up so nicely. I don't want to get too excited but, because South Africa and Australia are not the sides they once were, Wales have a real chance in the World Cup," Warburton wrote in his column for The Times.

Players from around the globe have been attracted to play in England's Premiership as a result of the large amounts of money being offered.

But Gatland told The Rugby Paper allowing foreign players to shine could ultimately be at the expense of the national side.

"You can understand people doing the best for their clubs and competitions, but you have to look at the bigger picture. What drives rugby globally is the international game. They're the things we need to consider and protect," he said.