Warren Gatland backed to lead Lions in 2025

Planet Rugby

Three-time British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland could return to lead the famous touring side in 2025.

The Lions take on Australia next, 12 years after Gatland first led the team down under.

Prior to the New Zealander taking charge, they hadn’t won a series since 1997, but that all changed in 2013 as they defeated the Wallabies 2-1.

Four years later, they secured a creditable draw with the All Blacks before narrowly being edged out by South Africa on Saturday.

Despite that defeat to the Springboks, Lions chairman Jason Leonard and managing director Ben Calveley have effectively said the job is Gatland’s if he wants it.

“I don’t think he will have a problem with us,” Leonard told reporters. “The highest accolade that I can give someone like Gats is that he is up there with Sir Ian McGeechan. If you cut him in half, he bleeds Lions. He just gets what the Lions is. Warren Gatland has got to be in consideration. It’s great to hear he is up for it.”

An outstanding coach and person

Calveley said: “Having worked with him for this two-year period and incredibly closely for the last seven to eight months, he has just proved once again what an outstanding coach he is but also what an outstanding individual he is.

“He has brought together this team of rivals, bonded them in the most challenging situation we have faced in any Lions tour and he deserves massive credit because in our view is right up there with one of the very best in the world.”

In what has been a difficult tour – one which received much criticism in the build-up and during it – some have questioned the viability of the Lions.

It is a topic which comes up every four years but Leonard insists that the brand remains strong looking ahead to 2025 in Australia.

“The one thing that I would say is that you would be surprised at how healthy the Lions are – alive and kicking,” he added. “People have not been able to come on this tour and the interest in 2025 is through the roof.

“Everyone is talking about that already so the Lions are going to be around for a while and it’s fantastic to be part of that. We are so looking forward to that going ahead and [up to] 50,000 fans coming over as well.”

 

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Gatland's job on the line?

Mark Smith and Adam Kyriacou from the Planet Rugby Show discuss the future of Warren Gatland after his British and Irish Lions lost the series against South Africa 2-1.