Rugby: Warren Gatland denies reports he intends to stay home after Lions tour

Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Warren Gatland has denied reports he intends to turn his back on Wales following the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

Gatland was given an extended sabbatical from coaching Wales in order to focus on the British and Irish Lions role, preparing the team for next year's three-test tour against the against the All Blacks.

And The Daily Mail reported today that Gatland had alerted close friends of his plan to remain in New Zealand after the tour, having spent almost nine years living 12,000 miles from home andseeing his family only four times a year.

But, after being reached by Newshub, Gatland said that report was "the first I've heard of that".

The 53-year-old also hit out at the source of the story, saying, "Is that the same people who's saying that James Haskell is dead?"

If Gatland were to depart his Wales role, it would be a huge blow to the team ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Gatland, who won the Grand Slam in his first season in charge in 2008, signed a six-year contract extension in 2013 understood to be worth more than £500,000 - making him the best paid coach in world rugby.

But the Daily Mail reported Gatland was ready for a return to his homeland, where he has a wife and two grown-up children.

His son Bryn, who was educated in London when Gatland coached at Wasps from 2001, is a promising first five who could line up for Blues against the Lions after impressing for North Harbour this season.