Why Gatland turned down All Blacks job
Warren Gatland has declined the opportunity to apply for the vacant All Blacks coaching job.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Gatland revealed that he was one of the 26 coaches invited by New Zealand Rugby to apply for the role, but he decided against it due to his loyalty to the Chiefs and British Lions.
‘‘I was asked to apply for the position now and I’ve gone back to them to say I won’t be putting my name forward, because at this point I’ve made a commitment to the Chiefs and I’ve made a commitment to the Lions,’’ Gatland told The Telegraph.
‘‘They appreciated it, they understood it.’’
The former Wales coach is returning to New Zealand to coach the Chiefs next year but will take a season off to fulfil his Lions duties in 2021.
‘‘I just think it would look poor me applying [for the All Blacks job]. It wouldn’t sit well with me, having already made commitments to the other two parties.’’
Although he won’t be putting
his name forward to replace Steve Hansen, Gatland made no secret of his desire to coach the All Blacks in the future.
‘‘The thing about the All
Blacks is, going back to New Zealand, being involved in Super Rugby, seeing how the Lions go – in another couple of years with the Chiefs, if you’re successful
where you are, the opportunities come.
‘‘I’m not saying ‘how do I become the All Blacks coach?’ That will happen if you do a good
job. That means that if I’m successful with the Chiefs, that opportunity might come along. Maybe it won’t. It’s not at the forefront of my thinking.’’