The 44-year-old has signed a four year contract with the Welsh Rugby Union which will ensure he leads Wales into the next Rugby World Cup which takes place in New Zealand in 2011.
He says his priority is to ensure Wales enjoys assured status as a true rugby power with the structures and systems in place to promote the development of young talent. The Kiwi believes he can achieve his aim by working closely with the regional coaches and the WRU elite team to capture talent early and develop players to their fullest potential.
The Welsh Rugby Union revealed that Warren Gatland emerged as the first choice candidate early in the search for a new coach and expressed delight that he has agreed to take on one of the most high profile jobs in world rugby.
WRU Audio: Warren Gatland discusses becoming Wales Head Coach
WRU Audio: WRU board member Gerald Davies explains why the WRU went for Warren Gatland
Warren Gatland said, “This is a great honour and I feel a tremendous sense of pride in having been chosen as the new Head Coach of Wales. I’ve been given the opportunity to coach at the highest level and I am very grateful to get this chance.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead but I know there is enormous talent in Wales and I feel extremely positive about what can be achieved. My aim is to leave Welsh rugby in a much better state when I finish here than it is at the start of my career as Wales coach.
“I want that success to be based on strong foundations and I will be seeking to work closely with the regional coaches to achieve my aims. There’s a huge amount of potential here to take the game forward and the regional sides in Wales are now beginning to get better and better.
“Wales is the sleeping giant of world rugby and I want to put in the right structures and processes to make sure we achieve our full potential. It is not my style to hiss and roar at the start so I will initially be doing a lot of watching and talking to understand exactly what needs to be done.
“I do think it’s essential we have the right balance in the set-up here and I definitely need Welsh input with people from Wales involved. My priorities are clearly defined with the short term goal to ensure we put the right things in place to face England in the RBS Six Nations and in the long term I will be working to develop a team for the next Rugby World Cup in 2011.
“I also hope the man who succeeds me eventually to be from Wales because the talent is here and it is developing quickly.”
The new coach returns to New Zealand after the weekend and will be back in Wales from early in December to take up his new role full time. He added, “The coaching team in charge for the South Africa game must be allowed to have their opportunity and the preparations for that match are now well advanced.”
He was recruited to the Wales job after a worldwide search by a three man Welsh Rugby Union panel of Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, Chairman David Pickering and WRU Board member Gerald Davies, the former Wales and British and Irish Lions wing.
Roger Lewis said: “We are delighted to have secured our first choice candidate as the new Head Coach of Wales.
“It was clear from our first meetings with Warren that he has the capability, attitude and integrity to deliver for Wales. His achievements so far as a player and coach speak for themselves and he undoubtedly possesses a burning desire for success.
“To achieve the true potential of Welsh rugby we need the right culture, systems and staff and as a straight talking, honest and direct man of true integrity, I am sure Warren will fit in well. Our ambition is to take Wales to the world through our rugby and I am confident Warren is going to prove to be an important part of that process.
“We were determined to align the new Head Coach to Wales for at least a four year term which means he can focus creating a sustainable future for Welsh international rugby. Warren has a proven track record as a coach who puts in place processes and structures which can and do deliver success in the long term.”
David Pickering added: “We have spoken to some excellent coaches in recent weeks but we are clear and confident that we have chosen the right man.
“Warren clearly has a deep understanding of all aspects of the modern game and knows how to get the best out of players. You only have to glance at his coaching record to see it is based on identifying winning formulas which achieve success.
“He is also a man of great integrity and honour who will undoubtedly develop a strong team and get the best from the coaches around him. Now we want the people of Wales to get right behind him and give him the support he needs to get the job done.”
Warren Gatland is currently coach of Waikato in New Zealand which is the team he played for from 1986 until 1994. The former hooker made four overseas tours as an All Black and played 17 times in the famous All Black jersey.
He was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and was educated at Hamilton Boys’ High School and Waikato University. He has coached the Waikato National Provincial Championship side since 2005 and in 2006 they won the inaugural New Zealand Cup.
He coached at provincial level in Ireland and with their national side from 1998 to 2001 and is credited with preparing the ground for their run of Triple Crown victories. Then as coach and subsequently Director of Rugby at Wasps he took the side to three consecutive Guinness Premiership titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the ultimate prize of the Heineken Cup in 2004.
Following today’s (Friday) announcement he will remain in Wales and visit the Liberty Stadium to watch the Ospreys in Heineken Cup action against Bourgoin on Saturday and on Sunday will be at Cardiff Arms Park to watch the Blues play Bristol.
Tonight (Fri) he will attend the 35th Anniversary Dinner of the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, which raises money for injured rugby players and on Saturday will be a guest of honour at Dinas Powys RFC’s 125th Anniversary Dinner.
The Waikato Chief Executive, Graham Bowen, said: “I am delighted for Warren and wish him well, but his departure is both a huge loss for Waikato and for New Zealand rugby as a whole. I know he has a real ambition to coach at international level and the job with Wales is a fantastic opportunity with a great rugby nation.”
Llanelli Scarlets captain Simon Easterby got his first cap for Ireland under Warren Gatland. He said, “I’m not surprised Wales have gone for him. I was only working with him for a short period, but his track record speaks for itself in terms of winning trophies.
“I got my first cap under Warren. I think I had him as coach for a year after that. He was new to the international scene then, having come from Connacht, and it was probably a surprise call by Ireland to pick him as head coach. But he gained a lot of respect from the players. He was very diligent in his preparation and got his job done.
“After moving on from Ireland, he went on to deliver some fantastic performances for Wasps and lifted some trophies with them. His track record since Ireland has been very good and he was the start of Ireland’s resurgence in terms of results and the team we have had for the past six or seven years.
“He is quite a quiet man and gets on with his job. I’m sure he already knows a lot about the players having seen them over the past few years.”
2003 Rugby World Cup winner and Wasps legend Josh Lewsey said: “It’s no coincidence the players will have a fantastic time working under Warren Gatland, and no doubt their success will speak for itself. I think this is one of the best appointments for a Northern Hemisphere team, and I’m sure that in the very near future we’ll see a resurgence of the sleeping giant that is Welsh rugby.”
