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The Welsh Rugby Union will reportedly consider reversing a ban on its national head coach being involved with the Lions if an approach is made for Warren Gatland to join next year's tour to South Africa.
New Zealander Gatland has emerged as a strong contender for the post, which will be filled after the end of the Six Nations, following Wales' strong start to the championship.
After another New Zealander, Graham Henry, led the Lions' 2001 tour of Australia - and lost the test series 2-1 - the Lions said they would in future prefer their head coach to be British or Irish and not coaching a national side.
However, the manager of next year's trip, Gerald Davies, said nationality and employment status would not be overriding factors for South Africa.
Gatland told the BBC he was better placed to coach the British and Irish Lions than Henry, having coached Ireland as well as Wales and been in charge at English club Wasps.
"Probably an advantage there'd be over Graham Henry is that I've been in the Northern Hemisphere so long," he said.
Gatland said he was flattered to be linked with the Lions.
"(But) it is not something I have really thought about. Wales have to be my No 1 priority," he said.
WRU chief executive Roger Lewis told the Guardian newspaper that he and Gatland had discussed the Lions issue after Wales' victory over Scotland at the weekend.
"We both agreed the interests of Wales have to come first, but if a position arose whereby he was asked to consider a role with the Lions, Warren and the union would need to understand and agree what impact this would have on the development of the Wales team," Lewis said.
- NZPA
