Gatland vows to honour Wales contract

Editor

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Warren Gatland of Wales looks on before the RBS 6 Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium on March 12, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Warren Gatland has rejected reports that he will quit Wales after the British and Irish Lions tour to return to New Zealand.

Gatland, who is on sabbatical as Wales coach to prepare for next year’s Lions tour to his homeland, has a contract with the Wales Rugy Union until the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

A defiant Gatland denied a report in a London newspaper linking him with a move to New Zealand after the tour and said he would honour his contract with the WRU.

He also revealed that he had already turned down an offer from the Chiefs in Super Rugby to take over from Dave Rennie in 2018, who will take over at Glasgow Warriors next season.

“The Chiefs spoke to me about three months ago but I told them it was a non-starter until my contract runs out with Wales,” Gatland told WalesOnline.

Gatland is not planning to extend his deal with the WRU.

“I told the Chiefs I would be interested after 2019 but there’s no way I would leave Wales or the Lions now,” said Gatland.

Gatland also questioned a atory in Mail on Sunday claiming he told friends he had coached Wales for the last time.

“This is a terrible story that someone has done to try to cause trouble,” he said.

“I don’t even know the reporter who wrote it. How could he even know my close friends? All my focus is on is the Lions and Wales. I repeat, I’m not going anywhere until after the 2019 World Cup. End of story!”