Warren Gatland: The Welsh Rugby Union have endorsed him for the Lions job
Warren Gatland has received an endorsement from the Welsh Rugby Union for the Lions coaching job but they want his work with them to be his top priority.
After guiding Wales to Grand Slam success earlier this month, Gatland is the overwhelming favourite to coach the Lions on their tour to Australia next year.
WRU chief executive Roger Lewis have revealed that informal talks have been held, but highlighted the fact that Wales have end-of-the year Tests coming up which they want Gatland to be involved in.
"We have had informal discussions with the British and Irish Lions over the last few months and we have talked to Warren about this for the best part of a year," Lewis told the Guardian.
"Warren does not have a clause in his contract which contains provision for him to coach the Lions, but we are hugely supportive of him and them.
"What I will say is that there is no question that Warren will not be leading Wales on our very important tour to Australia and I, personally, would like him to be involved in our autumn Tests against New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff."
Comments
Dingbat32 says...
jose_jones and APV1 - Only time will truly tell, but I expect Lions to be "valiant losers", just as Wales have always been against the best teams.
Posted 22:35 11th April 2012
APV1 says...
There's also the financial benefit to the host country. The recent PR article on the financial success of the NZ RWC last year (http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3562_7618051,00.html) stated,
"It said the 2011 World Cup was the largest event ever hosted in the country, with more than 1.35 million fans attending 48 matches, with revenue from ticket sales surpassing the NZ$268.5 million (£140 million) target set by organisers.
This equated to more than 10 times the gross revenue generated by the next biggest sporting event hosted by New Zealand, the 2005 British and Irish Lions rugby tour. "
Posted 12:13 28th March 2012
hayj05 says...
Regarding your French theory, the six nations are another 7 or 8 months after a lions tour. I highly doubt it would effect the players that far on. After the four Lions tours in the pro era France have won the European title every time with 3 GS but with rotation it also happens that they get 3 of the 5 Tests at home against England, Ireland, & Italy. England being the side they have a most trouble with in Europe.
As far as it being outdated, that's the point isn't it? It's all about nostalgia for the past. The extended tour, mid week games, culminating in a ferocious test series. Also lets not forget it's one tour every four years, the majority of the time the players are playing for their individual nations against the SH sides.
It is considered a great honour to represent the Lions and vice versa for a SH player to play against the Lions. Personally I love the Lions tour, the test matches are possibly the most intense Rugby on offer along with the big WC matches.
Posted 05:07 28th March 2012
scrumdog says...
@ blametheref. You are right about France winning Gran Slams after Lions Tours. Lions tours are fantastic in that the coaching team has to gel players from four countries in a short space of time to take on and defeat a national team..being the southern hemisphere teams or otherwise doesn't really matter its still a huge coaching/captaincy challenge. Its a showpiece for rugby with the best players on view.It's really very interesting watching the test team take shape during the mid-week matches with the different combinations of that work or don't work as a unit. Does anyone believe someone from the Southern Hemisphere has an understanding of the cultural diversity to make a Lions team click?.. Woodward was......er, Woodward...
Posted 18:27 27th March 2012
melkdave says...
What everyone is forgetting is there is a big differance in being involved in and coaching a team.Being involved is giving advice ect while coaching is implementing structures /tatics ect..Wales are asking for his involment only for the aurtum tests when the home unions arnt playing eachother not the 6Ns The Lions coaching job is now to be a year/ season long one .So he can look at and review all the players at club and national leval and speak to the coaches ect and get to know all the potential Lions players aswell as he knows the welsh atm.Im also pretty sure that when it comes to selecting the squad he will pick what he and his assistants feel are the best players to give the Lions a series victory and not on nationality.Its still to early imo to even pick a squad atm the real work starts next season with the aurtum interbnationals for WG and his assistants
Posted 15:18 27th March 2012
APV1 says...
@ blametheref - I'm surprised at your sentiments. I love the Lions Tours. I know that it's a bit of a show, but isn't that great!? And so what that we in the NH have to cobble a scratch team together from 4 nations to try to beat one of the "Big 3"? We all widely acknowledge that Aus, NZ and SA are consitently superior to the rest of us and the IRB rankings and RWC results over the years are a testament to that. So let's go out there and try to give them a run for their money!
@ Dingbat32 - I'm with jose_jones on this. His CV will look a lot better with Lions Tour wins than losses. In fact a whitewash would do his reputation a lot of damage. He's also been on a Lions Tour, so appreciates the ethos and the culture of the Tour. He is also, above all, a professional. I don't think his alleged "Welsh bias" would come through for two reasons:
1. He won't be biased.
2. Any bias won't be allowed to come through.
Posted 14:00 27th March 2012
jose_jones says...
@ Dingbat,... I've asked you this on anoter thread,... WHY do you think this?..... He's an international coach,.... the buck for this lions tour stops with him,.. if he takes the job,... he will want to get a result and will choose the team he thinks will do it ,.. Just because he's the Welsh coach does not make him an idiot, he will know who the best players in the 4 nations are, and he'll pick the squad with he council of coaches from other nations,.. I'm sure Rowntree will be the forwards coach,... You, will not agree with his selection,.. but I'm sure I won't either, but I'm not making the decisions because I've not coached a team to 2 grand slams in 4 years,.. he has,..
Posted 07:53 27th March 2012
Dingbat32 says...
scrumdog - only 2/3rds of the team? If Gatland has to choose between say a young Welsh prospect and a young Scottish prospect, who is he going to choose? Some players might never get a crack at the Lions unless the coach is thoroughly open in his selection. This could end up make the Henry and Woodward Lions tours look much better!
Posted 21:01 26th March 2012
blametheref says...
The British and Irish Lions is outdated in the modern game and I wish Ireland would pull out of it atogether, it really is a statement of inferiority by the NH home nations to have to put a team together to try and beat SH teams, in modern times it does not nothing to improve national sides other than players arrive home knackered and France usually win a Grand Slam following Lions Tours...In the past it was a quasi holiday for amateurs and mostly a way for top NH players to play top SH players when opportunities of playing each other were so rare
Posted 16:00 26th March 2012
scrumdog says...
"Warren Gatland has received an endorsement from the Welsh Rugby Union for the Lions job but they want Wales to be his top priority."...
Does that mean we'll see a Lions team consisting of two thirds of the Welsh squad?
Posted 14:47 26th March 2012
scrumdog says...
"Warren Gatland has received an endorsement from the Welsh Rugby Union for the Lions job but they want Wales to be his top priority."...
Does that mean we'll see a Lions team consisting of two thirds of the Welsh squad?
Posted 14:42 26th March 2012
Dingbat32 says...
2 great coaches - Mallett and Lancaster. One of them will be free agent shortly.......
Posted 13:23 26th March 2012
JamieTheProp says...
I think despite the Grand Slam considering the players available to them Wales under-achieved this year - so I'm not sure Gatland is the man really.
Dean Richards anyone?
Posted 12:53 26th March 2012
Jediboy says...
It's only right and proper that the WRU want WG for Wales but its good to see them so pro-Lions. Is there already a conflict of interest??
Posted 10:49 26th March 2012
Chancer says...
Would the other home Nations allow a Wales coach to review and watch their players even under the rationale of putting a lions team together
Posted 10:29 26th March 2012