Former England boss Stuart Lancaster has revealed he'd be open to coaching on the Lions tour in South Africa next year.
Rob Howley has been the Lions’ attack coach on the last three tours, as well as previously working under Gatland in the same role for Wales, but he has been out of rugby since being sent home from last year’s World Cup.
“It’s a long way off, isn’t it?’ said Lancaster when asked about the prospect of linking up with the Lions. “It just feels like so far away, you just sit there thinking, ‘Oh, the Lions’.
“I think everyone as a coach would ultimately want to test themselves at the highest level, but I’ve never personally chatted to anyone about it.
“So we’ll see, there’s been fantastic coaching teams that have gone in the past. I’m sure they would all be keen to put their hands up again in the future.
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“But let’s hope we’re in a position, probably this time next year, where we’re really actively debating who is going on that tour and it’s going to be a fantastic tour, and everything that we hoped for will happen.
“But equally who is to know how long this is going to go on. It’s just so hard to look too far ahead. My mind is very much focused on do what’s right for today to help society get through tomorrow.”
It will be fascinating to see if Gatland makes an approach to the Englishman to get involved in next year’s tour to South Africa.
British & Irish Lions predicted 2021 starting XV according to the bookies
Although it's about a year until Warren Gatland picks his Lions squad, the public has already started talking about who will make it onto the plane and who will line-up in the first Test against South Africa.
Gatland has spoken publicly about his team but has given little away as he continues to ponder over big selection decisions.
That doesn’t stop the bookies offering odds on who will make the squad.
Here is how the XV would shape up based on the favourites to be selected from each position.
You can view the full odds from Paddy Power HERE.
Odds are accurate on Wednesday, 22nd April 2020, 8am, and are subject to change.
Fullback: LIAM WILLIAMS (Wales 4/7)
Other contenders: Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Jordan Larmour (Ireland EVS), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales 5/1), George Furbank (England 7/2)
Left wing: JONNY MAY (England 1/25)
Other contenders: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 1/3), Adam Radwan (England 40/1), Jack Nowell (England 11/4), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales 13/8)
Outside-centre: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales 1/3)
Other contenders: Henry Slade (England 5/6), Garry Ringshow (Ireland 4/6), Jonathan Joseph (England 13/8), Chris Harris (Scotland 20/1), Huw Jones (Scotland 6/1)
Inside-centre: MANU TUILAGI (England 1/3)
Other contenders: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland 5/6), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales 5/4), Sam Johnson (Scotland 9/2)
Right wing: JOSH ADAMS (Wales 1/18)
Other contenders: Anthony Watson (England 4/6), George North (Wales 2/1), Elliot Daly (England 10/11), Joe Cokanasiga (England 3/1), Keith Earls (Ireland 9/2)
Fly-half: OWEN FARRELL (England 1/25)
Other contenders: Johnny Sexton (Ireland 1/2), Dan Biggar (Wales 8/15), Finn Russell (Scotland 3/1), Marcus Smith (England 8/1)
Scrum-half: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland 4/6)
Other contenders: Tomos Williams (Wales 5/4), Ben Youngs (England 6/4), Ali Price (Scotland 2/1)
Looshead-prop: MAKO VUNIPOLA (England 4/6)
Other contenders: Ellis Genge (England 1/3), Cian Healy (Ireland 5/6), Joe Marler (England 5/2)
Hooker: JAMIE GEORGE (England 1/10)
Other contenders: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England 4/6), Ken Owens (Wales 7/4), Stuart McInally (Scotland 7/2)
Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland 1/15)
Other contenders: Kyle Sinckler (England 1/5), Tomas Francis (Wales 11/8), Harry Williams (England 5/1)
Lock: MATO ITOJE (England 1/10)
Other contenders: James Ryan (Ireland 1/5), Jonny Gray (Scotland 8/11)
Lock: ALUN WYN JONES (Wales 1/5)
Other contenders: Iain Henderson (Ireland 4/6), Courtney Lawes (England 5/4), George Kruis (England 7/2), Jean Kleyn (Ireland 33/1), Richie Gray (Scotland 5/1)
Blindside-flanker: TOM CURRY (England 1/7)
Other contenders: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland 7/4), Lewis Ludlam (England 11/4), Jamie Ritchie (Scotland 10/1)
Openside-flanker: SAM UNDERHILL (England 1/4)
Other contenders: Hamish Watson (Scotland 8/11), James Davies (Wales 10/1)
Number 8: BILLY VUNIPOLA (England 1/4)
Other contenders: CJ Stander (Ireland 1/3), Taulupe Faletau (Wales 11/10), Ross Moriarty (Wales 5/1)
