Warren Gatland will return to New Zealand to coach Super Rugby outfit Chiefs after the World Cup, it has been confirmed.
The 55-year-old is calling time on over a decade as Wales head coach after this year's World Cup in Japan and has already been confirmed as the next British and Irish Lions coach to tour South Africa in 2021.
But his next job before the trip to South Africa will be with the Chiefs, after Gatland confirmed will return to Waikato on a four-year deal for the 2020 season.
He will be released after his maiden season to coach the Lions before returning for the 2022 and 2023 Super Rugby seasons.
Gatland said: "I'm really excited about the opportunity to come back home. It seems strange saying that having been away from New Zealand for so long but the opportunity to come back as head coach of the Gallagher Chiefs is something I'm really looking forward to."
Chiefs CEO Michael Collins added: "From our perspective, we always knew Warren had signed with the Lions when we were talking to him.
"For New Zealand Rugby, while it might not be perfect for them, they were aware that there was a concession that had to be made.
"Warren is clearly a world class coach and we've been in contact directly with Warren. We haven't advertised this position. We think he's of a calibre that we didn't need to."
The news comes on the same day that current Chiefs coach Colin Cooper stepped down after two seasons - cutting short his three-year deal with an early release.
Strikingly, Cooper said "it was time to step down and make way for a new man" at the announcement of his departure.
And that new man is Gatland - with a return to New Zealand having been the likeliest option for him after calling time on Wales despite links to the England and France jobs.
