WRU cool on Lions link

WARREN GATLAND’S hopes of leading the British and Irish Lions on next year’s tour of South Africa have been dented after the Welsh Rugby Union claimed they had every right to block his appointment.

Wales head coach Gatland insisted earlier in the week his current job was his priority but admitted it was “flattering” to be linked with the Lions role.

But WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis has played down the link, stressing: “When the story broke, I discussed it at length with Warren.

“We both agreed that the interests of Welsh rugby are paramount and if the Lions deflected from that in any way, the option would not be on the table. It’s not really on the radar. Warren could have some Lions role, but we’d probably prefer it’s not head coach.”

The WRU could be discouraged by the unhappy experience of another New

Zealander who led the Lions, Graham Henry, who took charge of the 2001 tour to

Australia.

Henry was Wales coach at the time and took a large contingent of his players on the tour. But when a number of them failed to make the Test team, it played a part in destroying his relationship with the Wales dressing room.

But another ex-Wales coach, 2005 Grand Slam winner Mike Ruddock, believes that should not necessarily rule out Gatland.

“I’m sure Warren could do a fantastic job with the Lions,” said Ruddock, who was fulsome in his praise of the Kiwi’s work with Wales.

“Henry’s experiences with the 2001 Lions obviously did affect his relationship with the Wales players.”

Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan is one of the favourites to be Lions coach, while South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White has expressed an interest.

England head coach Brian Ashton has declared he will not be available for the Lions, while Eddie O’Sullivan’s stock has fallen since Ireland’s poor World Cup campaign.