Warren Gatland confirms his stance on impending All Blacks vacancy

Warren Gatland is the latest coach to remove his name from contention as a potential candidate to succeed Steve Hansen with the All Blacks.

Gatland – just like Ireland’s Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt – will step away from his role with Wales after this year’s World Cup in Japan and is undecided when it comes to his future.

In an interview with The 1014 Rugby, Gatland commented on the impending vacancy.

“I’ve seen the speculation like everyone else,” Gatland said. “To be honest with you, I’m finishing with Wales after the World Cup and the plan was to come back home, I’d love to come back and coach in New Zealand and do some Super Rugby if there’s an opportunity.

“That’s where I see that being important for me: to come back and to get involved in some level of New Zealand rugby, not at All Black level, but ideally if there was an opportunity at Super Rugby, to spend my time there and reintegrate into New Zealand Rugby and then if you’re successful other opportunities might come along in the future.”

Gatland has been in charge of the Wales national side since 2007, with a winning rate of around 55 per cent and two Six Nations Grand Slams to his name.

He has also been in charge of the British and Irish Lions for their last two tours.

He led the Lions to victory over Australia in 2009 and drew his series against New Zealand in 2017.

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