KEY POINTS:
Ian Foster's contract extension through to 2009 has left the New Zealand Rugby Union an uphill struggle to retain Warren Gatland.
Gatland is off contract with the NZRU and Waikato at the end of this year and is constantly bombarded with high-profile overseas offers.
The former Wasps and Ireland coach was reportedly on the Rugby Football Union's shortlist to be director of rugby last year and sources say Leicester Tigers have interviewed Gatland about their soon-to-be vacant head post.
With no shortage of options to depart, the NZRU will need to find a challenging role if Gatland is to stay beyond 2007.
And this is where they might struggle. Gatland is currently an assistant with the Chiefs and head coach of Waikato's champion Air New Zealand Cup team.
These are positions he has held since 2005 - although he was technical director at the Chiefs in 2005 before becoming an NZRU-contracted assistant - and after three years, he will feel he needs to be progressing.
With Foster contracted for another two seasons, the obvious path for Gatland to follow now appears blocked.
Foster's contract is with the NZRU and is not a guarantee of being retained as the head coach of the Chiefs. However, the Chiefs are clearly taken by his work, as are the NZRU, who have been impressed by the results Foster has achieved with the Junior All Blacks in tandem with Colin Cooper.
It would, therefore, be a major
surprise, having contracted Foster and invested heavily in his career development, if the NZRU does not retain him in his current roles through to 2009.
Aware that his chances of taking over as head coach of the Chiefs are slim, Gatland will have to determine whether his current roles fulfil his professional needs or whether he needs to move elsewhere to continue being challenged as a coach.
There are potentially opportunities for him in New Zealand. Robbie Deans is flirting with offshore suitors and has a get-out clause that would allow him to quit his contract at the end of this Super 14.
While the Crusaders have a strong tradition of promoting within, the chance to lure a coach of Gatland's standing might be hard to resist, should Deans move on.
Gatland, though, has family links in the North Island so the Blues sit as a more likely fit. David Nucifora is off contract at the end of the year and the former Brumbies mentor is rated a strong candidate to take the Wallaby job when it becomes available after the World Cup.
Auckland's Pat Lam and Shane Howarth are a promising coaching duo ready to try Super 14 and current Blues assistant Joe Schmidt will also come under consideration if Nucifora moves on.
Gatland can trump all of them in terms of experience and the prospect of him operating as a head coach with Lam and Howarth as his assistants, similar to the Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith axis for the All Blacks, is one the Blues will find appealing.
These opportunities are by no means certain to arise, which is why Gatland might remove all doubt and commit to an overseas contract so he can plan his future and be more in control of his career.
His reputation in the UK is outstanding thanks to his many successful years there and every Guinness Premiership club would pay top dollar to have him involved.
