Gatland picked up the award of ‘Outstanding Contribution’ to rugby in a year which saw him guide the British & Irish Lions to a memorable Test series victory over Australia.
Gatland, who is busy preparing for this weekend’s Dove Men Series clash with Argentina at Millennium Stadium, said: “It’s a great honour to win the Outstanding Contribution award at the 2013 Rugby Expo Dinner & Awards.
“The award means a great deal and to follow the previous winners is a great honour. I have worked in some great set-ups and I would like to thank all those I have worked alongside and thank the committee for the award.”
The evening proved a double success for Wales as the WRU Group also received the award for Marketing Campaign of the Year.
The winning 2012 Dove Men Series ‘Our Land, Our Way’ campaign used leading players Dan Lydiate, George North, Rhys Priestland and Leigh Halfpenny to capture the spirit of Wales and Welsh Rugby.