B&I Lions leave the door open for Gatland

British and Irish Lions' chairman Jason Leonard has admitted that the tourists would have no issue with Warren Gatland taking charge of another tour.

Gatland refused to rule out another tour after defeat in the Test series to South Africa. Leaving the door open for the tour to Australia in 2025, his fifth tour and fourth as head coach.

Jason Leonard admitted that they would have no issue with Gatland taking charge of another tour with managing director Ben Calveley adding that he would certainly be in consideration once again.

"I don’t think he will have a problem with us," said Leonard.

"I think Ben [Calveley] will agree with me on that.

"The highest accolade that I can give someone like Gats is that he is up there with Sir Ian McGeechan. If you cut him in half, he bleeds Lions.

"He just gets what the Lions is. 24 hours after the Test we have not really gone down that route but Warren Gatland has got to be in consideration. It’s great to hear he is up for it."

Calveley echoed Leonard's thoughts, saying: "I feel exactly the same. When we appointed Warren two years ago we said there were two real reason for making that appointment. One was the breadth of his CV, which is almost unrivalled and matches the very best. The second point was that he just gets the Lions as well as anyone out there.

"Having worked with him for this two-year period and incredibly closely for the last 7-8 months, he has just proved once again what an outstanding coach he is but also what an outstanding individual he is.

"He has brought together this team of rivals, bonded them in the most challenging situation we have faced in any Lions tour and he deserves massive credit because in our view is right up there with one of the very best in the world."