WALES PUT A £1.2m PRICE ON GATLAND
WALES have slapped a £1.2million price tag on head coach Warren Gatland to ward off possible interest from England. With Stuart Lancaster’s future in doubt, 52-year-old Gatland will be one of the frontrunners if the RFU seek a replacement head coach. But Gatland is contracted to Wales until 2019 and — while a buy-out would be an option — WRU chairman Gareth Davies claims there is no plan to sell the New Zealander’s services. ‘Why would we even consider letting Warren go anywhere, especially England?’ Davies told
The Times. ‘He is happy here and we are very happy to have him. He has been hugely successful for us and has another four years remaining on his contract. ‘Yes, there would be a buy-out clause, but for us it’s not about money. His service is something you can’t necessarily put a price on.’ Gatland masterminded the victory which eventually led to England’s exit from Pool A and has taken Wales to successive knockout stages at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, despite working with limited resources. If the Kiwi does stay with Wales, one of his first post-World Cup jobs is to decide the role of defence coach Shaun Edwards, who is out of contract with the WRU and could be lured back to England. There is also a decision to be made over the future of Lions No 8 Toby Faletau, who is seeking a move to Bath but — under the conditions of the Rugby Services Agreement — must have any move signed off by the WRU.
Sportsmail understands that Faletau’s club, Newport Gwent Dragons, have written to Welsh Rugby bosses to request a £150,000 transfer deal for the back-row.