Former Wales coach Warren Gatland turned down the opportunity to replace Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach because of loyalty towards the British and Irish Lions and the Chiefs.
Gatland, who led Wales to the World Cup semi-finals last month before stepping away from the job after 12 years, was asked to apply for the role to coach his national side but said he had already committed to his other posts.
He told The Telegraph: “I was asked to apply for the position now and I’ve gone back to them to say I won’t be putting my name forward because at this point I’ve made a commitment to the Chiefs and I’ve made a commitment to the Lions.”
“They appreciated it, they understood it,” Gatland added. “I just think it would look poor me applying [for the All Blacks job]. It wouldn’t sit well with me, having already made those commitments to the other two parties.”
