Gatland poised to take charge of Wales

WARREN GATLAND has all but confirmed he is poised to take charge of Wales.

Wales have been shopping for a coach since Gareth Jenkins fell on his sword after his team failed to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France. Gatland said yesterday there were some areas still to be sorted out with Welsh rugby.

Gatland, who recently relinquished his role as assistant coach of Super 14 franchise the Chiefs, said: “I can’t say that an announcement will be in next 48 hours ... something could happen reasonably quickly.

“All I can say is that there are still things to work through for both parties — I don’t have a work permit, a UK passport and am still contracted to Waikato.”

Gatland who returned to New Zealand in 2005 after playing and coaching stints in Europe also hinted that frustration at not breaking through to coaching at a higher level in New Zealand was behind his move back to Europe. “I was hoping to have an opportunity to be in charge of a Super 14 side but that hasn’t been available to me since I have been back in New Zealand so you just got to look at all the chances and opportunities in front of you,” he said.

Confirming coaching the All Blacks was something he would love to do in the future Gatland added that he did not think he was in line to succeed Graham Henry at this time.

‘‘They (the New Zealand Rugby Union) haven’t been through that review process and I presume they have a number of people in line ahead of me.” Crusaders coach Robbie Deans is the reputed front-runner to succeed Henry.