Reports surfaced over the weekend that Warren Gatland was to end his near decade in charge of Wales after this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
The Daily Mail article suggests that Gatland has grown weary living 12,000 miles away from his family, whom he sees just four times a year, and plans to remain in New Zealand following the Lions tour.
It is claimed that Gatland could be manoevering to push his case to replace Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach when he steps down after the next Rugby World Cup in 2019. NZRU rules, previously, have required the head coach of the All Blacks to have been actively coaching in the country in the last 12 months, which would mean Gatland is ruled out should he remain with Wales.
Although he has since quashed the speculation that he is set to walk out on his Wales deal, ther 53-year-old revealed that he rejected an approach from a Super Rugby franchise, the Chiefs. The Chiefs are set to lose their current coach, Dave Rennie, to Glasgow Warriors in the summer and they are looking round for a replacement. Gatland would fit the bill perfectly.
“The Chiefs spoke to me about three months ago but I told them it was a non-starter until my contract runs out with Wales,” Gatland said when speaking with Wales Online.
“I told the Chiefs I would be interested after 2019 but there’s no way I would leave Wales or the Lions now.
“All my focus is on is the Lions and Wales: I repeat, I’m not going anywhere until after the 2019 World Cup.”
This is all very well and good; however, should the All Blacks decide Gatland is their man would he really turn down the most formative side in World Rugby? He would almost certainly face competition from Joe Schmidt and perhaps Vern Cotter, current Ireland and soon-to-be Montpellier coaches, respectively.
Whether Wales fans are happy with Gatland’s perceived commitment to 2019 remains to be seen. Recently there has been a growing noise that Gatland’s time in charge is nearing its natural conclusion and a new direction is required.
Should Gatland decide to move on it is likely that the WRU will turn to either current acting caretaker coach Rob Howley or Wasps coach Dai Young.
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