Gatland to be confirmed as the Lions head coach

The British & Irish Lions are set to confirm Wales' Grand Slam winning head coach Warren Gatland as their head coach for their 2021 tour to South Africa on Wednesday.

Gatland is set to lead the Lions for third consecutive tour having coached the Lions in their previous two tours, where they claimed a series victory over Australia in 2013 and drew with New Zealand in 2017.

He was assistant to Ian McGeechan during the side’s last tour to South African in 2009, when the Lions lost the series 2-1.

The New Zealander is the longest-serving coach of Wales and will step down after the World Cup in Japan.

Exact dates for the 2021 tour are yet to be confirmed but the schedule is expected to be cut down from 10 matches in six weeks to eight matches in five weeks while the new international calendar will also take place later in the year.