Lions head coach Warren Gatland is unbeaten in two consecutive Tours to Australia and New Zealand, and is only the second person to lead a third tour after Sir Ian McGeechan.

Gatland was also part of the last British & Irish Lions touring party to South Africa in 2009 as McGeechan’s forwards coach in the 2-1 series defeat to the Springboks. Should Gatland avoid defeat, he would create Lions history by becoming the first person to lead tours to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and remain unbeaten.

His first Tour as head coach of the Lions saw them win the Test series 2-1 against Australia in 2013 before a remarkable tie against New Zealand four years later – with the tourists drawing a dramatic final Test against the All Blacks. Previously he coached Wales from 2007-2019, winning three Grand Slams and a further Six Nations Championship titles before joining the Chiefs in New Zealand, taking a sabbatical for the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa.

Other international experience saw Gatland coach Ireland between 1998-2001.

Domestically, Gatland has also coached Connacht and Wasps – winning three English Premiership titles and a Heineken Cup during his time – before a stint with hometown side Waikato in New Zealand where he claimed the Air New Zealand Cup.

During his playing career Gatland became the record-holder of the most games for Waikato, finishing his career there with 140 games in total.

Warren Gatland Factfile

Coaching career:

• Connacht (1996-98)
• Ireland (1998-2001: 38 Tests)
• Wasps (2002-05: 3x Premiership titles, 1x Heineken Cup)
• Waikato (2005-07: 1x Air New Zealand Cup)
• Wales (2007-19: 4x Six Nations titles, 3x Grand Slams, Rugby World Cup semi-final and quarter-final)
• British & Irish Lions: 2009, 2013, 2017 o 2009 – Assistant coach (forwards) o 2013 and 2017 – Head coach