Gatland out of the 2013 six nations
Wales coach Warren Gatland will be out of the 2013 six nations because of commitments with the British and Irish Lions.
Gatland has reached an agreement with the Lions that will let him take charge of two of the autumn internationals, but not the Samoa and Argentina games in November. He will also miss the 2013 Six Nations Championship.
"I won’t coach the Samoa and Argentinian weeks or be involved in the Six Nations," Gatland told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I think that’s trying to give the position some neutrality."
Originally, the Lions wanted Gatland to take a year off from Wales, Gatland wanted to take charge of Wales to add the elusive feather of a Southern Hemisphere scalp to his cap and he sees the Autumn games against Australia and New Zealand as just the opportunity to do that.
The Kiwi has been favourite for the position of Lions coach since leading Wales to a second Grand Slam and the World Cup semi finals and the ERU announced in March that if he was offered the job, they would release him from his contract.
His appointment is not yet finalised, but he is expected to be under contract in the next month.
"We still haven’t signed anything yet but it’s very close," he said.
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