Gatland reveals he was close to leaving
WARREN Gatland has revealed for the first time how only an £8,000 stumbling block stopped him quitting Wales to take over a New Zealand Super Rugby side.
The Welsh and Lions boss outlined the fine detail of how he found himself on the brink when the Waikato-based Chiefs tried to persuade him to return home.
The money on the table from the Chiefs was dwarfed by Gatland’s bumper six-figure salary with Wales.
But he says he would still have been prepared to go back to New Zealand if the Chiefs had just upped their offer by 15,000 dollars, the equivalent of just £8,000.
He tells the story of the talks with the Chiefs, which happened after the 2011 World Cup, in an interview with the Times about the Lions’ upcoming tour to take on Steve Hansen’s world champions.
Gatland had coached the Waikato provincial side before being persuaded by the Welsh Rugby Union to uproot and come over to Wales in 2007.
Of the approach by the Chiefs, he told The Times: “I went back and said, ‘Is there any chance for a bit of movement — you’ve offered me less money than in 2007 when I left?’
“In my mind, I was thinking: If they offer me a little more, say $15,000, I will sign. And they came back and said, ‘Take it or leave it.’ ”
Gatland emphasises “It wasn’t a money thing” and simply wanted to test how much the Chiefs really wanted him.
Instead Gatland penned a new deal to take Wales through to the 2015 World Cup and has also committed to the 2019 tournament in Japan. Staying here, of course, has given him the opportunity to twice become head coach of the Lions.
Asked about his future, and whether he coveted becoming New Zealand boss one day, Gatland said he was adopting a ‘What will be will be’ approach.
“I’m not thinking, ‘My plan is to be the All Blacks coach,’” he said.
“I’m doing the Lions, then going back to Wales to 2019, then finishing after the World Cup and I’ve got no idea what I will do.
“I’m thinking of taking six months off, probably go back home and see what’s out there.”