Wales vow to fight England for coach Warren Gatland

nted man: Warren Gatland is said to be open to an approach from England despite being under contract with Wales for another four years
(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Julian Bennetts13 November 2015

The Welsh Rugby Union will resist any attempt by England to lure Warren Gatland to Twickenham as Stuart Lancaster’s replacement.

Gatland is one of the stand-out contenders to succeed Lancaster but the Wales head coach publicly confirmed last week he would stay in Cardiff until his contract expires in 2019.

However, reports now suggest the 52-year-old is open to an approach from the RFU, who would have to pay sizeable compensation to get Wales to release him from his deal, which is believed to be worth £300,000 a year.

The WRU have confirmed to Standard Sport they are desperate to keep Gatland and his coaching staff — all of whom, bar Shaun Edwards, are also under contract until 2019 — and would not welcome an approach from RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie.

And another leading contender for the job, Jake White, has told the RFU to make a quick decision on who they want to be Lancaster’s successor.

White’s Montpellier side were thrashed 41-18 by Harlequins at The Stoop last night and the South African — who won the World Cup in 2007 — admits the focus on his own position is a huge distraction.

But White also believes he is the man who can lead England to ‘the top of Everest’ and win the World Cup in 2019.It is thought, however, that his request for a swift decision will fall on deaf ears, with the RFU adamant there is no deadline to appoint a successor to Lancaster, who resigned this week after England exited the World Cup at the pool stage.

England must name an EPS Squad in January ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 6.

And Gatland is a genuine contender to be in charge for that game despite the issue of compensation.

The RFU are the richest Union in the sport so the size of any pay-out should not be an issue. Now they must decide whether to make an official approach to the WRU, who have indicated to Standard Sport they are desperate to keep their hugely successful head coach and his assistants in place.

But White is adamant he is up to the task if England do turn to him.

“I know I can get them to win a World Cup,” he said. “Since I finished with the Springboks I have always made it clear I have a burning desire to win another World Cup. That means I have to align myself with the side that I think I can get the best out of.

“As I have always said there are a couple of teams in the world that have the ability of getting that right and England are one of them. If you have been to Everest and put the pole in the top of Everest... it is easy to talk about if you have never done it.”

Speaking after his side’s heavy defeat in the European Challenge Cup, White explained why, from his point of view, a decision should be made as soon as possible.

“Everyone needs to know what is going on,” said White. “That is why you are surrounding me after a match and I understand that. I have my owner of the club [Mohed Altrad] sitting next to me and asking me 10 minutes before we walk into the team room about what’s happening and where I am going.”

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