Rugby: Gatland Handed Lions Role

Warren Gatland has been confirmed as the head coach for next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

The Kiwi has been the favourite in the online gambling stakes to get the job for a number of years and confirmed his credentials as the finest coach in the British Isles by leading Wales to their second Grand Slam in four years in March.

The 48-year-old also took the Welsh to the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup but missed the Red Dragons’ recent tour Down Under, after breaking his ankle while doing some gardening work at home in New Zealand.

However, he’s now back to full fitness and looking forward to the challenge of leading the Lions to what could be their first series win since 1997.

There is no question, it will be one hell of a challenge, he said. Playing in the southern hemisphere is one of rugby's hardest challenges. The Lions came close in South Africa (in 2009) and our ambition is to win the series in 2013 - and I believe we have the players to do that.

Gatland already has plenty of experience of Lions rugby, having previously worked under Ian McGeechan on the last tour to South Africa in 2009.

The former schoolteacher will be the second Kiwi to lead Britain’s best on tour, after Graham Henry coached the side in Australia in 2001, and is understandably excited about the ‘unique’ opportunity being afforded to him

"I really enjoyed the experience as one of the assistant coaches in 2009 and since then have harboured the ambition to lead the tour to Australia next year, he continued.A Lions tour is unique; it is the ultimate career pinnacle for coaches and players.

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