Warren Gatland has agreed a deal to become British and Irish Lions head coach for their 2021 tour of South Africa.
The New Zealander, who will step aside as Wales head coach after this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan, has coached the iconic Lions on their last two tours.
They triumphed Down Under against Australia in 2013 before a dramatic drawn series against the All Blacks in 2017.
With a trip to South Africa approaching, where they suffered a heartbreaking series defeat in 2009, Gatland will again take charge of the touring side, made up of the top players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
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Gatland will follow in the footsteps of Lions legend Sir Ian McGeechan by becoming only the second man to take up the head coaching role for three consecutive tours.
His imminent departure from the Wales job after 12 years in charge has seen plenty of speculation surrounding Gatland's future.
He has been linked with the England job and also ruled out of taking over the French national team, although his current focus remains on Wales' 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign.
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He is understood to have verbally agreed a deal to become Lions boss once again, with an official announcement expected before his Wales squad link up for their pre-World Cup training camp in June.
Gatland, who is currently in New Zealand and has been unable to officially put pen to paper, is likely to start in the role a year out from the tour in order to fully prepare.
He has stepped temporarily away from his Wales post in the run-up to the last two tours, and his Lions move is likely to scupper any chances of him succeeding Eddie Jones as England head coach.
