Gatland Injured Window Cleaning

Warren Gatland must have surgery after breaking both his heels in an accident while on holiday in New Zealand.

However, he will be able available to take charge of Wales' three-Test tour to Australia in June.

After guiding Wales to a second Grand Slam of his reign this season, Gatland, 48, is likely to coach the 2013 British and Irish Lions' tour to Australia.

The Welsh Rugby Union said Gatland would require surgery "to reconstruct his right heel".

If Gatland does not recover as expected, he and WRU chief executive Roger Lewis have recommended that assistant coach Robert Howley take charge on a caretaker basis.

“He [Gatland] was cleaning windows when he lost his balance and fell three metres onto concrete taking the full impact on his heels”Welsh Rugby Union statement

The WRU statement read: "Rob Howley will oversee day-to-day management of the coaching staff in Wales and will play a key role in liaising between the Wales-based staff and the head coach during Gatland's temporary absence from camp.

"Team manager Alan Phillips will keep the head coach informed of all other squad preparation issues."

The governing body's statement added: "[Gatland's] return to Wales has been delayed as he recovers from leg injuries sustained in a fall while working at his family beach house on Waihi Beach at around 8.30am last Easter Monday.

"He was cleaning windows when he lost his balance and fell three metres onto concrete taking the full impact on his heels.

"He suffered multiple fractures to the right calcaneus and also a fracture to the left calcaneus.

"Consequently, he is in leg casts and requires surgery by the leading orthopaedic surgeon in the Waikato to reconstruct his right heel.

"The injury he suffered is not expected to have any major impact on the continuing preparations for scheduled Wales matches in June 2012."

Lewis said: "I have spoken to Warren on a number of occasions since his fall and have told him he will lead the tour to Australia unless anything unforeseen happens in the prognosis for recovery we are working to."

Gatland to Lead 2013 Lions

Wales coach Warren Gatland has been offered the job of leading the British and Irish Lions on their 2013 tour to Australia, BBC Wales Sport understands.

Gatland was interviewed for the head coach job in London on Wednesday before returning to his native New Zealand.

Representatives of the 48-year-old, who has just led Wales to the second Grand Slam of his time in charge, are now believed to have begun contract talks.

Gatland's appointment is expected to be finalised in the next month.

Lions bosses wanted their 2013 coach to be "available effectively a year out".

And the Welsh Rugby Union, Gatland's full-time employers, had already paved the way for his Lions appointment by granting permission for him to miss the 2013 Six Nations.

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis has already spoken "informally" to Lions team manager Andy Irvine and Lions chief executive John Feehan about the prospect of Gatland, who was assistant to Sir Ian McGeechan on the 2009 Lions tour of South Africa, coaching the Lions in Australia.

Gatland is expected to appoint his Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards to his backroom team, while England defence coach Graham Rowntree, who was linked with a move to Wales in 2011, is also widely tipped to be one of his assistants.

Wales lost their coaching team of Gatland, assistant Edwards, skills coach Rob Howley, plus other members of their backroom staff to the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa.

The Lions lost 2-1 to the world champions, while Wales were on a two-Test tour in North America.

The WRU are happy to ask Gatland's assistants Howley and Robin McBryde to lead Wales in the 2013 Six Nations and on their summer tour to Japan if Gatland was confirmed as Lions chief.

Gatland transformed Wales from 2007 World Cup flops to 2008 Grand Slam champions within months of taking the Welsh job.

He also guided Wales to an impressive fourth place at the 2011 Rugby World Cup before securing a second Six Nations clean sweep in 2012 - Wales' third Grand Slam in eight years.

Gatland, who also won the 2004 Heineken Cup and three English Premiership titles as Wasps coach, is likely to become the second foreign coach to lead the Lions.

Fellow Kiwi Graham Henry, one of his predecessors as Wales coach, led the Lions' unsuccessful 2001 tour to Australia.

Gatland will take his Wales team on a three-Test Tour to Australia this June before an expected return Down Under with the Lions 12 months later.

LIONS IN AUSTRALIA 2013

Sat 1 June - Barbarians, Hong Kong

Wed 5 June - Western Force, Perth

Sat 8 June - Queensland Reds, Brisbane

Wed 12 June - Combined New South Wales-Queensland Country, Newcastle

Sat 15 June - New South Wales Waratahs, Sydney

Tue 18 June - ACT Brumbies, Canberra

Sat 22 June - First Test, Brisbane

Tue 25 June - Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne

Sat 29 June - Second Test, Melbourne

Sat 6 July - Third Test, Sydney

Gatland Gets Sam's Lions Backing

Wales captain Sam Warburton has thrown his support behind Warren Gatland to be appointed head coach of the 2013 British and Irish Lions.

It's understood Wales' double Grand Slam and RBS 6 Nations title-winning mastermind will be interviewed for the post along with Ireland boss Declan Kidney and Scotland's Andy Robinson.

But it is thought that New Zealander Gatland's appointment is viewed as a formality for the three-Test trip to Australia. It should be confirmed next month.

"I love working with him - he is a fantastic coach," Warburton said.

"If you look at his record - two Grand Slams and a World Cup semi-final - he deserves the Lions job. He gets the best out of players, and I owe a lot to him. He put his faith in me as a young player and captain."

Warburton, meanwhile, is due to see a specialist on Tuesday in an attempt to gauge the extent of a shoulder injury that forced him off during last Saturday's RBS 6 Nations title clincher against France.

It was his third different injury of this season's Six Nations following earlier thigh and knee trouble that contributed to him playing just 160 minutes from a possible 400 in the championship.

Warburton has already undergone an MRI scan, but that proved inconclusive.

"Not much showed up on it," he added. "There is a bit of concern because I am still in quite a bit of discomfort.

"I am seeing a specialist, and I will find out more then. The MRI scan did not show any soft issue damage. It may be that it is more complicated than that, such as something to do with nerves, which would not have shown up.

"I do not know what to think - it could be two weeks, or it could be two months. I hope it is shorter, rather than longer."

Jenkins Talks Gatland for Lions

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins believes his coach Warren Gatland is the man to take charge of the British and Irish Lions in Australia in 2013.

If Wales win the Six Nations title by beating France on Saturday it would be a second Grand Slam for 48-year-old New Zealander Gatland in five seasons.

Jenkins said: "I think it would be great if he gets it."

Gatland was an influential member of Sir Ian McGeechan's coaching team when the Lions toured South Africa in 2009.

The Lions ultimately went down 2-1 to the Springboks in a memorable Test series.

Jenkins, a Test Lion on the last two tours, believes Gatland has strong claims to do the top job, the identity of whom is due to be unveiled in April.

"He did a great job on the last tour," said Jenkins, who captained Wales to victory over Italy on Saturday. "He is a great coach and he has got the credentials for it.

"It was pretty old school on the last tour. We had some good enjoyment, but it was very serious at the same time."

Gatland's case to be Lions coach in Australia could be helped by the fact that he has afive-month break clause in his Wales contract, which could give him the chance to be part of the Lions party.

In October 2010, Gatland signed a contract extension with the Welsh Rugby Union that sees him in charge until after the 2015 World Cup.

That deal includes the five-month break from Wales duties, which Gatland stated at the time was to give him the chance to spend time at home in New Zealand.

However, the timing of the break in his contract coincides with the Lions tour schedule.

Jenkins and his playing colleagues will be hailed if they are confirmed as European champions on Saturday. But the 86 times-capped loosehead has also underlined Gatland's immense contribution for the way Wales have maintained momentum from their 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance in October.

"There is a real strong group of people behind Warren," said Jenkins. "The set-up is really good and he has got everything in place.

"I wouldn't say that training is over-complicated, but everyone knows their role and everyone knows the system.

"He gives the players confidence to go out there and perform, and he is also a very good man-manager.

"I wouldn't say there are many players he doesn't get on with at all, and he is always around in the environment speaking to players.

"He doesn't hide from things. If something needs to be said, he will say it, and I think the players know that."

Jenkins played key roles when Wales won the Grand Slam in 2005 and 2008 - prop Adam Jones and back-row forward Ryan Jones are also chasing a hat-trick - and he admits that the build-up to the France game will be about trying to block out the external hype.

"There is massive expectation on us this week," he said. "It has been a tough campaign, but everything we've put in leads up to winning this game on Saturday.

"The training is not going to be much different. It will be intense and geared to Saturday. The main thing is blocking out anything in the exterior.

"It is going to be talked up all week. Everyone knows that. It's a big chance for us to make history, and we are really looking forward to it.

"Twice I have been involved in previous Grand Slams, and the week has just flown by. It is not until a couple of months afterwards that you realise how big a deal it was and how much was actually on the game.

"The week takes care of itself. You are worried about your own job and making sure on the day you perform.

"They are six days you have got to savour. It's a short turnaround, so we have really got to get ourselves mentally and physically ready."

LIONS IN AUSTRALIA 2013

Sat 1 June - Barbarians, Hong Kong

Wed 5 June - Western Force, Perth

Sat 8 June - Queensland Reds, Brisbane

Wed 12 June - Combined New South Wales-Queensland Country, Newcastle

Sat 15 June - New South Wales Waratahs, Sydney

Tue 18 June - ACT Brumbies, Canberra

Sat 22 June - First Test, Brisbane

Tue 25 June - Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne

Sat 29 June - Second Test, Melbourne

Sat 6 July - Third Test, Sydney

Gatland Leading Lions Candidate

Warren Gatland would have to take a year off from his Wales role if he were to succeed Ian McGeechan as British and Irish Lions coach in Australia in 2013.

Gatland has a five-month break clause in his Wales contract that could give him the chance to be part of the Lions party.

Lions team manager Andy Irvine insists they have yet to settle on a coach.

He added: "We would be looking for the coach to be available effectively a year out."

If chosen from the four home unions, that would rule the Lions coach out of any involvement in a nation's 2012 November Tests or the 2013 Six Nations that follows.

In October 2010 Gatland signed a contract extension with the Welsh Rugby Union that sees him in charge until after the 2015 World Cup.

That deal includes the five-month break from Wales duties, which Gatland stated at the time was to give him the chance to spend time at home in New Zealand.

However, the timing of the break in his contract coincides with the Lions tour schedule.

The choice of Lions coach will be announced after the 2012 Six Nations and would be allowed to undertake summer 2012 tour duties.

Wales play three Tests in Australia in June 2012, while Scotland also face the Wallabies before heading for the Pacific Islands.

At the same time Ireland take on World Cup holders New Zealand and England travel to South Africa.

Irvine added: "I think it's fair to say that if any of them [national coaches] are involved in summer tours we would regard that as acceptable, but that thereafter we would be hoping that he could concentrate entirely on the Lions."

England have yet to name a new coach following Martin Johnson's decision to step down amid the on-going fall-out from their unhappy World Cup campaign.

McGeechan, now in charge at Bath, could also be a candidate to lead a fifth Lions tour having done so in the 1989 tour success against the Wallabies and the series defeat against New Zealand in 1993, 2-1 win in South Africa in 1997 and the 2-1 defeat by the Springboks in 2009.

Former Scotland coach and player McGeechan had Gatland and his Wales assistants Robert Howley, Shaun Edwards and Neil Jenkins in his back-up staff in 2009 along with England's Graham Rowntree.

Irvine says that as one of four men who will choose the 2013 Lions coach, he cannot rubber-stamp anyone for the role.

"We have a completely open mind for the 2013 tour on who it [the coach] will be," said Irvine.

"Whoever the coach is will be taking a year out. He does not have to come from the home unions and we could look worldwide, but ideally the head coach will come from a union associated with the Lions."

But he conceded Gatland is one of the leading candidates in the wake of Wales' strong World Cup campaign.

"There is no doubt that Wales had a hugely successful World Cup," said Irvine.

"And what impressed me so much was the way that they got their selection right.

"They managed to bring through some youngsters, some exciting youngsters and they were very good off the field of play.

"And I have to say I think they were unlucky and with a modicum of luck they could have well been in the final and who knows?

"They were playing so well they could have really challenged New Zealand.

"And so fair credit to Wales, a super World Cup and great to see."