OUTGOING WALES COACH Warren Gatland will once again lead the Lions tour when the combined nations travel to take on South Africa in 2021, according to The Telegraph today.
Gavin Mairs reports that Lions managing director Ben Calveley has completed negotiations with the Kiwi and the contract is expected to be signed and sealed next week, with a formal announcement to be made before Wales begin their World Cup training camp in mid-June.
Gatland will leave his post with Wales in the wake of Japan 2019 – where he will pit his wits against Australia, Georgia and Fiji in Pool D before possible quarter-final clashes with England, France or Argentina.
He stands unbeaten over his two Lions tours with a win over Australia in 2013 followed by the contentious 2017 drawn series in New Zealand.
Gatland was also part of Ian McGeechan’s coaching ticket when the Lions last faced the Springboks, a 2-1 series defeat in 2009.
Gavan Casey, Murray Kinsella and Bernard Jackman tee up Saturday’s Champions Cup final and look at the backroom problems in Munster.:
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Can’t wish anything but the best of luck in his retirement. Garrett took munster from an amateur club with an amateur ethos to one of the most recognisable and successful clubs and brands in the world. He can certainly look back on what he achieved with huge pride.
@Jim Demps: Agree with his achievement taking us out of the amateur era. However he stayed too long in the role. The investment and structures today are behind all the other provinces.
@Smiley: good to see him go! Been there way to long!! Imagine if someone was in that position in a normal business for that length of time… ridiculous
@Smiley: renovated thomond park and est. the UL training facility?
@Smiley: ah only one other province has a purpose build stadium. Have had more internationals in the last 20 years than 2 others combined. I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about
@Smiley:
I believe the “NAME” was there before he came along “one of the most recognisable and successful clubs and brands in the Rugby World”.
Thank you GF for all the great days at Munster rugby
Disaster!! Fitzgerald sacked…by himself. Crisis at Minster as CEO sacks himself…
sorry, im trying to write the indos headline…
Good luck Garrett
@PScald: I was thinking more along the lines of doubling down on the loss of identity followed by rumouring Barend Van Graan for the role in a further south Africanisation of the province while going on to say munster don’t develop any talent of their own and only poach lads from other places. Bloody turnip eaters.
@PScald: haha don’t give Ruaidhri O’Connor ideas!
Good riddance, in my opinion.
He leaves a club who are now eight years without a trophy and are also heavily in debt, who are far behind the other provinces in producing players.
@Treaty Bhoy: why do you do it ? still no answer ?
@k mcnamara:
And why dou you do it ??
Clearly the IRFU have had enough of his Mis management. I can’t wait for tomorrows indo to get the real story, and then Monday’s one where they print all their apologies.
@Bungee Aky: The real story is he had major surgery last year and has been out of work recovering for the last year and isn’t capable of filling the job requirements anymore
@Bungee Aky: you’re some troll
@Bungee Aky: how’s you kid bungee? Still in hospital? You been at many underage gaa games recently to send emails and call for prescriptions?
@Eoin Murphy: you have the sense of humour of a badly injured car crash victim.
@Roberts Mel: yes, no.
@Bungee Aky: that’s original I’ll give you that
@Bungee Aky: Nasty and totally uncalled for after the man’s health difficulties. I’d say ‘shame on you’ but you probably don’t understand the concept.
All Joking aside
The FAI need to get someone of his calibre on board, experience of the amateur and professional game, strong governance, financial capabilities, contract negotiating, and all the other skills they are devoid of.
@Bungee Aky: you just posted a big fat long comment on the chelsea arsenal live blog on how you’d watch the ‘odd European game’ but find “soccer” very boring. You clearly have no idea whatsoever with what your talking about and just copy what other posters (regardless of the fact they’re right) say. Don’t bother giving your opinion on football
@Eoin Murphy: who did I copy?
@Bungee Aky: every comment on the john delaney article. It could be your own independent opinion but its so clear you just looked at them and jumped on the bandwagon
@Eoin Murphy: so it’s my own opinion now?
@Bungee Aky: what im saying is you hark on about how “soccer” is so boring and then you give your opinion on something you clearly dont have a clue about, on a completely unrelated rugby article
Fair dues to him, although he’s shown a severe lack of ambition over the last 10 years.
Best wishes to him, hope he recovers from his illness and enjoys his well earned retirement.
New CEO will have to get the Thomond PK financial monkey off Munsters back. Foregoing 10 years ticket income to part own a stadium was a strategic error. It meant Munster were down circa a million a year in the rugby spend compared to other provinces. Shades of Pairc Ui Caoimh.
The best of luck to him. He did well ! However he did stay on to long. Maybe if he stepped out at the end of the Paul O Connell era his legacy might have been stronger?