England want Gatland to take over from Jones

The Rugby Football Union has confirmed they will approach Kiwi Warren Gatland when they begin the search for Eddie Jones’ successor next month.

The recruitment process for finding England’s next head coach will be led by Nigel Melville, who will officially take over as RFU interim chief executive on Christmas Eve.

After almost 12 years in charge of Wales, Gatland is stepping down from his post after next year’s World Cup.

It has been suggested that the 55-year-old is set to return to New Zealand but he does have history with Melville, who appointed Gatland as England club Wasps’ forwards coach in 2002.

‘‘I once employed him. I brought him to Wasps,’’ Melville told The Times. ‘‘Warren’s a very good coach. I’ll speak to Warren and a number of others.’’

Jones is contracted until 2021, although there is a break clause in his contract if England fail to perform at the World Cup in Japan.

The Times reported that the official succession plan was for the Australian to act as a mentor for two years before handing the reins to one of his assistants, bringing Steve Borthwick or former All Blacks coach John Mitchell into the equation.

But it appears the RFU is planning for two eventualities.

Melville, who is setting up a recruitment panel, suggested his preference was to identify an Englishman for the role and did not rule out Stuart Lancaster, who oversaw England’s disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign.

Lancaster has since rebuilt his career at Irish club Leinster but Melville will be casting a wide net.

‘‘All our top English coaches will be contacted. I am English, this is England, of course it would be great to have an English coach. But we have got to have the best coach for the job,’’ he said.

‘‘We have been monitoring everyone for the last 18 months. We have got a spreadsheet of everything and everyone. I think a number of the current coaching team could be interested in that role.

‘‘It is working out who are the right people for the job and getting to that shortlist. That will be between January and the end of the season.’’

Hemi Taylor, the first Kiwi to play for Wales, believes Gatland, the head coach for the last two British and Irish Lions tours, would be perfect for the England job.

‘‘We don’t know what’s going to happen with Eddie Jones after the World Cup but I’d like to see Gatland in the England job,’’ Taylor told Wales Online.

‘‘He knows the English game inside out after guiding Wasps to European and domestic titles, and the player-profile is perfect for him.

‘‘English rugby has vast playing numbers and produces big men, which suits the physical, war of attrition template successfully employed by Gatland, whether it’s been with Ireland, Wasps, Waikato, Wales or the Lions.

‘‘He could have great fun in England with the resources they have at their disposal.’’