Warren Gatland will replace Colin Cooper as Chiefs coach, according to reports.
Radio Sport reported this morning Gatland has signed a four year deal to return to the Waikato for the 2020 Super Rugby season.
#BREAKING The @radiosportnz Breakfast can confirm Warren Gatland will coach @ChiefsRugby in 2020, 2022 and 2023, with a year off to coach the British and Irish Lions in 2021.
— Radio Sport (@radiosportnz) June 27, 2019
The 55-year-old is calling time on over a decade as Wales head coach after this year’s World Cup in Japan and has already been confirmed as the next British and Irish Lions coach to tour South Africa in 2021.
He will be released next August to coach the Lions and return for the 2022 and 2023 Super Rugby campaigns.
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Gatland has been the head coach of Wales since 2007, leading them to three Six Nations grand slam titles, and coached the Lions on tour’s of Australia and New Zealand.
The news comes on the same day that current Chiefs coach Colin Cooper stepped down after two seasons – cutting short his three-year deal with an early release.
AT A GLANCE
Warren Gatland’s coaching career
Galwegians RFC: 1989-94
Thames Valley (assistant): 1994-96
Connacht: 1996-98
Ireland: 1998-2001
London Wasps: 2002-05
Waikato: 2005-07
Chiefs (technical advisor): 2006-07
Wales: 2007-19
Lions: 2009 (assistant), 2013, 2017, 2021