Wales name Alex King and Mike Forshaw in Warren Gatland's coaching staff

Alex King was Wales' stand-in backs coach when they finished fifth in the 2017 Six Nations

Head coach Warren Gatland has appointed Alex King and Mike Forshaw to replace Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins in Wales' backroom staff.

King will return to the attack coach role he held temporarily in 2017 when Gatland was with the British and Irish Lions.

Forshaw arrives from Sale and will replace defence coach Jenkins.

King and Forshaw join Jonathan Humphreys and Neil Jenkins, who are retained from Wayne Pivac's set-up.

"I'm delighted Alex and Mike are joining the Wales coaching team," said Gatland.

"They both have plenty of experience as players and coaches, which will be hugely important to the development of the squad through the Six Nations and beyond.

"I'd like to thank Sale Sharks for their co-operation in the process and allowing Mike to take up this position with Wales.

"We have less than a month to our first Six Nations match against the number one side in the world which, as I've said before, is a great challenge to have first up and one that we are very excited about as a coaching group.

"Having our first match this championship at home will be very special and I'm looking forward to getting back out at Principality Stadium in front of the best fans in rugby."

Former England fly-half King, 47, was previously part of the backroom team under Rob Howley, who had been tipped to return as attack coach.

He played alongside Howley under Gatland at Wasps and was part of their Heineken Cup-winning sides in 2004 and 2007.

King left to join French side Clermont in 2007, where he moved into coaching before joining Northampton in 2013.

He was part of the backroom staff that guided the Saints to the Premiership title the following year before leaving Northampton to take up a position with Montpellier, after being a temporary part of the Wales set-up.

After a three-year stint in France King joined Gloucester, before leaving in the summer of 2022.

"I am immensely proud to be part of the Wales coaching team again," added King.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my previous time working with the squad.

"There are some talented players in Wales, so I am really excited by this new opportunity and can't wait to get stuck in."

Mike Forshaw played rugby league for England and Great Britain

Former England defence coach Paul Gustard, currently at Stade Francais, had been linked with the Wales role.

Forshaw was appointed as Sale defence coach in 2013 after an illustrious career as a player in rugby league.

Wigan-born Forshaw worked with Warrington and Wigan in Super League and had previously spent three years coaching with Connacht, helping the Irish province make their Heineken Cup debut in 2011.

In his playing career, Forshaw represented Wigan, Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos before a short stint in union with Saracens.

He returned to league with Bradford Bulls before finishing his playing career with Warrington Wolves.

Sale have conceded only 26 tries in the Gallagher Premiership this season, the lowest of any side in the division.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead," said Forshaw.

"I can't wait to meet the players and start working with a really talented squad.

"I played in Cardiff in 2003 and it's an incredible place to play rugby. I want to get these lads defending with real energy and I want them to be excited about their defensive work.

"If we can do that then I think we can take some big steps as a team and achieve something special, because the talent is there.

"I had never met Warren before but he's obviously one of the game's great coaches.

"I spoke to him on the phone and I can't wait to start working with him and getting to know him personally too.

"This is probably one of the only jobs that I would have left Sale for but I know that I'm leaving a club that's going in the right direction.

"It's a special club and I'm excited to see what this group can achieve this season and beyond."

Gatland returned to Wales for his second stint in charge after replacing Pivac in December 2022.

Wales open their Six Nations campaign against Ireland on 4 February in Cardiff.

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