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Welsh rugby officials are in New Zealand as their global search to find a new national coach begins.
The Wales on Sunday newspaper reported that a coaching selection panel of chief executive Roger Lewis, chairman David Pickering and Gerald Davies had a number of candidates in their sights as Wales look to appoint their sixth coach in nine years.
Four New Zealanders - Robbie Deans, Warren Gatland, John Mitchell and Steve Hansen - top Wales' wish list, along with South African coach Jake White, according to the newspaper.
The Welsh union ditched previous coach Gareth Jenkins after Wales failed to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in France.
The newspaper reported that the Welsh union would offer a new coach a four-year deal worth more than A3;1 million ($2.66 million) to build for the 2011 World Cup.
It said the panel had already spoken to Gatland, formerly coach of Ireland, who has warned that Wales' high turnover of coaches may put some candidates off.
Gatland, who now coaches Waikato, said while the Wales job was an "attractive proposition" the new coach needed time to transform the fortunes of the Welsh side.
" Every coach understands that results mean everything in professional sport, especially in the UK, but there's no point in merely toppling the coach every time the results don't go to plan," Gatland was reported as saying.
" That has been one of the problems in Wales when you look at the number of coaches they have gone through in recent years.
"That is not going to give any candidate a feeling of confidence or security and might even put some people off."
Lewis said he had been encouraged at the reaction to the panel's search.
" What has been hugely encouraging is that everyone we have made contact with has been prepared to speak to us and hear what we have to say.
"That proves the role of coaching Wales remains one of the plum jobs in the world game."
Gatland said the Welsh job had its attractions.
"The Wales job will be an exciting and challenging position for whoever gets the role.
"I am still under contract with Waikato and there are a lot of issues involved in that. I was pleased to meet with the Welsh group and I was impressed by what they had to say.
"The World Cup was obviously a disappointment to everyone and the 2007 Six Nations campaign wasn't great either. That means whoever takes over must be given time to make a difference."
The newspaper also confirmed the All Blacks would play Wales in Cardiff in November next year.
"We have confirmed their trip to Cardiff in 2008 and our visit to New Zealand in 2010. We are also in discussion with them about a 2009 game at the Millennium Stadium," Lewis said.
- NZPA
