"England an option" - Warren Gatland confirms European return in 2023

Wednesday, 29 June 2022 at 20:07

byRugby Rucker

Former Wales and Ireland boss Warren Gatland reveals he's set to return to Europe once his contract in New Zealand expires in 12 months time.

Domestically, Gatland has also coached Connacht and Wasps – winning three English Premiership titles and a Heineken Cup during his time – before a stint with hometown side Waikato in New Zealand where he claimed the Air New Zealand Cup.

“I am contracted with the New Zealand Rugby Union for the next 12 months and I have enjoyed my role as director of rugby with the Chiefs, working closely with the coaches and coaching the coaches and a hands-on role working with the players,” revealed Gatland, who was speaking exclusively to The Telegraph.

“After that I am probably going to look for another role overseas. I loved my time as a young coach in Ireland [with Connacht and then as head coach of the national side] and my time with Wasps and, of course, Wales. It was pretty challenging but the people made it special for me in Wales. I could end up in the UK again.

chris jones

@chrisjonespress

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In an exclusive interview to mark his signing for @TelegraphSport as a new rugby columnist, Warren Gatland says he may look for a new position overseas when his contract with the Chiefs in New Zealand is up next summer. @lionsofficial

6:09 PM · Jun 29, 2022

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“I loved my time in the northern hemisphere, the friends that I made and I enjoyed the rugby. I have nothing concrete yet and haven’t had any conversations yet.

“There is a lot more pressure in international rugby because you are under the spotlight but the flip side is that every game is like a cup final.

"In club rugby you have a bit more leeway to try different combinations as you can lose some games and still make the top four. You look at the pros and cons of both and see hopefully where you can make a difference.”

DID YOU KNOW? As a player, Gatland played as a hooker and was one of Waikato's longest-serving players, having played 140 games for the province – a record at the time

EDITORS PICKS:

WARREN GATLAND'S DREAM TEAM:

BACK-THREE:

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
14. Shane Williams (Wales)
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu (New Zealand)

Gatland on Sivivatu: “Probably the best player I’ve ever coached, [who] played for the All Blacks, Waikato and Clermont, was Sitiveni Sivivatu,”

Gatland on Halfpenny: “Probably pound-for-pound, Shane Williams. He had some incredible brilliant attacking attributes. But sometimes Shane could score three tries and let in two. But pound for pound he was unbelievable when he was at his best.”

CENTRES:

13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales)

Gatland on O'Driscoll: "In his prime, he was absolutely outstanding in terms of his rugby knowledge and leadership. He was always able to make players around him look better than they were."

HALFBACKS:

10. Dan Biggar (Wales)
9. Conor Murray (Ireland)

FRONT-ROW:

1. Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
2. Ken Owens (Wales)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

SECOND-ROW:

4. Maro Itoje (England)/Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

Gatland on Jones: "I think he's got a fantastic balance between rugby, training and home and he's matured incredibly well, is unbelievably respected by the players - the example that he sets at training, the high expectations that he has on himself."

Maro Itoje of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

BACK-ROW:

6. Sam Warburton (Wales)
7. Justin Tipuric (Wales)
8. Lawrence Dallaglio (England)

Gatland on Warburton: "His leadership, attitude and demeanour, along with his performances, have placed Sam up there as one of the best and most respected players in the world. He finished with a record that he should be extremely proud of and should look back on his career with huge pride.”

Gatland on Dallaglio: "“The best captain that I’ve ever been involved with was Lawrence Dallaglio. He had that unbelievable ability to motivate players in a way that I’ve never seen anyone else able to do. Particularly in the changing rooms. He’d talk the talk and then walk the walk. I’ve so much admiration for his leadership and honesty in that role.”

DID YOU KNOW? Warburton was born in Wales to a Welsh mother and an English father and he considers himself Welsh and British