Post by bod on Nov 9, 2007 12:42:20 GMT
Warren Gatland has been appointed as the new coach of Wales, according to his former club Waikato.
The appointment of the 44-year-old is set to be formally announced by the Welsh Rugby Union at a news conference at 1230 GMT on Friday.
The former Ireland and Wasps coach will start his new job on 1 December.
"While it was a hard decision to make to leave, it is the ultimate dream for me to coach at this level again," Gatland told the Waikato website.
"I've been given the opportunity to coach at the highest level. I want to thank Waikato for the support they have given me during this time of transition."
Wales have been without a coach since sacking Gareth Jenkins the day after they were knocked out of the World Cup by Fiji at the end of September.
Gatland - who represented New Zealand 17 times between 1988 and 1991 but was denied a cap by the presence of Sean Fitzpatrick in the team - was on a shortlist of three foreign coaches approached by the WRU.
He met WRU officials in New Zealand last month at the start of the Union's global search for a new coach and arrived in Cardiff at the weekend.
Gatland spent the weekend with WRU chief Lewis, visiting his house and joining him at the Joe Calzaghe versus Mikkel Kessler boxing match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Lewis has refused to be drawn on names, although he said he was encouraged by the interest in the post shown by Gatland and South Africa's departing coach Jake White.
"We have our first choice," Lewis told BBC Sport. "He is totally the right man to lead us to the next World Cup and I think the people of Wales will recognise that."
Meanwhile, the WRU is still negotiating with another New Zealander, Andrew Hore, to become the new elite performance director, who would work above Gatland.
"I would have no problems at all working with Andrew," Gatland said.
"But that appointment has nothing to do with me. The Welsh Rugby Union are working through that process at the moment."
There has also been media speculation linking the Wasps defence coach, Great Britain rugby league legend Shaun Edwards, with a move to Wales when Gatland takes charge.
He and the New Zealander were part of Wasps' 2004 Heineken Cup winning coaching set-up, while former Wasps scrum-half Rob Howley could also be approached by Gatland.
Edwards has expressed an interest in stepping up to international level, albeit on a part-time basis.
But Gatland said: "Until anything is finalised that is pure speculation and it would be unfair at the moment to comment much further on those things, especially as Shaun is under contract at Wasps."
The Waikato Rugby Union fully supports Warren in his decision to coach at international level again.
Waikato Rugby Union chief executive Graham Bowen
Gatland enjoyed a highly successful spell as coach after joining the English side in 2002, leading them to three consecutive Guinness Premiership titles (2003, 2004 and 2005) and the Heineken Cup in 2004.
He cut his coaching teeth at Connacht before succeeding Brian Ashton in the Ireland job, enjoying three successful years only to be ousted by Eddie O'Sullivan in 2001.
He is currently assistant at Super 14 team the Chiefs and is also in charge of the Waikato NPC side, but is keen to get back into the international set-up.
And Waikato Rugby Union chief executive Graham Bowen said Gatland departs with their blessing.
"The Wales coaching job was an opportunity too good to turn down for Warren, who had aspirations to continue on as an international coach," said Bowen.
"The Waikato Rugby Union fully supports Warren in his decision to coach at international level again. We have a good relationship with Warren and maybe sometime in the future he will again be able to add value to Waikato Rugby.
"Winning the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006 and securing the Ranfurly Shield for the eighth time in Waikato history this year are highlights in Warren's time with the Mooloos.
"However, he was also instrumental in developing a number of young rugby players in our province and we will no doubt see the result of this in future years in Waikato rugby."
The appointment of the 44-year-old is set to be formally announced by the Welsh Rugby Union at a news conference at 1230 GMT on Friday.
The former Ireland and Wasps coach will start his new job on 1 December.
"While it was a hard decision to make to leave, it is the ultimate dream for me to coach at this level again," Gatland told the Waikato website.
"I've been given the opportunity to coach at the highest level. I want to thank Waikato for the support they have given me during this time of transition."
Wales have been without a coach since sacking Gareth Jenkins the day after they were knocked out of the World Cup by Fiji at the end of September.
Gatland - who represented New Zealand 17 times between 1988 and 1991 but was denied a cap by the presence of Sean Fitzpatrick in the team - was on a shortlist of three foreign coaches approached by the WRU.
He met WRU officials in New Zealand last month at the start of the Union's global search for a new coach and arrived in Cardiff at the weekend.
Gatland spent the weekend with WRU chief Lewis, visiting his house and joining him at the Joe Calzaghe versus Mikkel Kessler boxing match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Lewis has refused to be drawn on names, although he said he was encouraged by the interest in the post shown by Gatland and South Africa's departing coach Jake White.
"We have our first choice," Lewis told BBC Sport. "He is totally the right man to lead us to the next World Cup and I think the people of Wales will recognise that."
Meanwhile, the WRU is still negotiating with another New Zealander, Andrew Hore, to become the new elite performance director, who would work above Gatland.
"I would have no problems at all working with Andrew," Gatland said.
"But that appointment has nothing to do with me. The Welsh Rugby Union are working through that process at the moment."
There has also been media speculation linking the Wasps defence coach, Great Britain rugby league legend Shaun Edwards, with a move to Wales when Gatland takes charge.
He and the New Zealander were part of Wasps' 2004 Heineken Cup winning coaching set-up, while former Wasps scrum-half Rob Howley could also be approached by Gatland.
Edwards has expressed an interest in stepping up to international level, albeit on a part-time basis.
But Gatland said: "Until anything is finalised that is pure speculation and it would be unfair at the moment to comment much further on those things, especially as Shaun is under contract at Wasps."
The Waikato Rugby Union fully supports Warren in his decision to coach at international level again.
Waikato Rugby Union chief executive Graham Bowen
Gatland enjoyed a highly successful spell as coach after joining the English side in 2002, leading them to three consecutive Guinness Premiership titles (2003, 2004 and 2005) and the Heineken Cup in 2004.
He cut his coaching teeth at Connacht before succeeding Brian Ashton in the Ireland job, enjoying three successful years only to be ousted by Eddie O'Sullivan in 2001.
He is currently assistant at Super 14 team the Chiefs and is also in charge of the Waikato NPC side, but is keen to get back into the international set-up.
And Waikato Rugby Union chief executive Graham Bowen said Gatland departs with their blessing.
"The Wales coaching job was an opportunity too good to turn down for Warren, who had aspirations to continue on as an international coach," said Bowen.
"The Waikato Rugby Union fully supports Warren in his decision to coach at international level again. We have a good relationship with Warren and maybe sometime in the future he will again be able to add value to Waikato Rugby.
"Winning the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006 and securing the Ranfurly Shield for the eighth time in Waikato history this year are highlights in Warren's time with the Mooloos.
"However, he was also instrumental in developing a number of young rugby players in our province and we will no doubt see the result of this in future years in Waikato rugby."