Wales rule Gatland out of running to lead the Lions

WALES have ruled out Grand Slam winner Warren Gatland leading the Lions to South Africa.

Gatland has been linked with the job for next summer’s tour after leading Wales to the Six Nations title in his first season.

But the Welsh Rugby Union have slammed the door on any approach for Gatland when the Lions committee name the head coach next month, though chief executive Roger Lewis said he will listen to requests for Gatland to play a supporting role.

Lewis said: “Warren and I spoke about the potential of the Lions job and we agreed it was not in the best interest of Welsh rugby for him to be considered.

“We all know he would be an outstanding candidate with the experience he has but there is still a lot of work to be done with Wales.

“However we would be amenable to discuss Warren being part of the set up. It’s up to the head coach to decide on his backroom staff and we would look at that, if something arose.”

Wales are eager to avoid a repeat of the fall-out among the Welsh players that followed Graham Henry’s selection policy during the 2003 Lions tour.

However Gatland, and assistant Shaun Edwards, are almost certain to be approached if Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan gets the nod for the top job.

However Gatland insisted: “There has been absolutely no approach from the Lions. If I was invited, then I would have to look at what role and input I would have.”

He added: “Being part of the Lions was a big reason behind Shaun joining Wales, especially as we face South Africa three times before next summer.”

Wales are in talks with Leicester Tigers’ conditioning coach Craig White who played rugby league alongside Edwards at Wigan. Discussions are also being held regarding compensation payments to the Welsh regions regarding a fourth autumn Test date, against Australia on November 29.

Meanwhile Western Province president Tobie Titus has criticised the organisers of next year’s Lions tour to South Africa after his home ground Newlands missed out on hosting one of the three Test matches.

For the first time in the history of Lions tours to South Africa, there will be no Test in Cape Town after Titus vowed WP were not prepared “to sell our soul” to stage a match. Titus gave up the fight to hold a Test at Newlands as he did not want to make 11,000 tickets available to Lions supporters.

“There were too many logistical problems that we had,” Titus said.

“If we wanted to meet the quota of tickets that they wanted for the Lions supporters, then we would have had to turn away our season ticket and suite holders in the process.

“Newlands will not be part of any agreement that states that 11,000 tickets need to be made available for the Lions supporters.

“WP Rugby Union could not give that sort of assurance and that is why Newlands was not given a Test match.”

Titus believes the tour organisers could have prevented such problems arising by clarifying ticket arrangements with Lions management before the itinerary was put together.

“They should have first negotiated the number of tickets with the various provincial unions before they signed the agreement with the Lions tour management,” he said.

“Rugby is a business, and we could not allow a situation where the Lions tour management walk all over us. We could not also give up our birthright to look after our loyal supporters.”