Warren Gatland signals future commitment to Wales

The move follows the conclusion of a review of Wales’ performance in the World Cup

Warren Gatland has moved to keep his coaching staff ‘until at least 2019’ (Getty)

Warren Gatland has given the strongest indication yet that he wants to stay as Wales coach by moving to keep his coaching staff in place “until at least 2019” for the next World Cup.

The Wales head coach, who has been linked with the England job, has a deal in place for the next four years but defence specialist Shaun Edwards is out of contract and the existing terms for the attack coach Rob Howley and forwards coach Robin McBryde expire next summer.

The move follows the conclusion of a review of Wales’ performance in the World Cup, where they lost in the quarter-finals, and future plans for the national team, undertaken by Gatland and his senior management staff.

Gatland said: “We have had an extremely thorough review and I have subsequently spoken to all the coaches, ideally wanting them to stay in place until at least 2019.

“I am aware that they have all developed strongly over recent years and can be described as world-class.”

He also criticised “unhelpful speculation regarding the future of individuals within the coaching team”.