GAT BACK IN LIONS DEN

WARREN GATLAND will take charge of the British and Irish Lions for a third time in 2021, despite saying he would never coach them again. The Wales head coach, 55, has accepted an offer to lead the tour to South Africa and will sign officially next week. Gatland, who leaves the Wales job after the World Cup, was an assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan the last time the Lions went to South Africa a decade ago. He stepped up to lead the 2-1 series win over Australia in 2013 and the 1-1 draw in New Zealand in 2017. On his last tour, the Kiwi press mocked him up as a clown and Irish flanker Sean O’Brien criticised him and assistant Rob Howley, which led Gatland to say in late 2017: ‘I’m done and I wouldn’t subject myself to (another tour).’ Meanwhile, tournament bosses EPCR have confirmed Tottenham Hotspur’s new 62,000-seater stadium will host the 2021 European cup finals, as revealed by Sportsmail on Wednesday. SCOTLAND scrum-half Greig Laidlaw came off the bench in the first half and kicked 18 points to help Clermont Auvergne beat La Rochelle 36-16 in the European Challenge Cup final at St James’ Park last night.