Wales laugh off Northampton Saints interest in Warren Gatland with coach set to stay until 2019 Rugby World Cup

Gatland is under contract until the end of Japan 2019 and Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips admitted he 'didn't lose a beat' amid Northampton's interest

The Welsh Rugby Union expect Warren Gatland to lead Wales into the next Rugby World Cup in 2019 (Getty)

The Welsh Rugby Union have laughed off Northampton Saints’ interest in national team head coach Warren Gatland, with the chief executive Martyn Phillips claiming he “didn’t lose a beat” over the Premiership’s side open interest.

Northampton are searching for a new director of rugby after sacking Jim Mallinder last week following more than 10 years of service at Franklin’s Gardens, with club president Keith Barwell publicly admitting that they had drawn up a shortlist with Gatland’s name on it.

Saints had considered the Kiwi for the job when Mallinder was first appointed back in 2007, and Barwell confirmed that the British and Irish Lions coach was once again being mentioned in the Northampton boardroom.

“We decided not to ring him [Gatland] then,” Barwell told The Mirror this week. “Well I thought we’d give him a second chance.

“I won’t be choosing the coach, let me say that, we’ve got a committee that’s doing that. But I want people to understand that we’re starting from the top not the bottom so, yes, we’re interested in Warren.”

Interest in Gatland appeared to be a dead end given that the 54-year-old is preparing to lead Wales into a third consecutive Rugby World Cup at Japan 2019, but that has now effectively been confirmed after Phillips revealed he expects Gatland to honour his contract, which runs until the end of the tournament.

“I didn’t lose a beat if I’m honest,” Phillips said on Wednesday. “He’s going to get linked with all sorts of jobs, isn’t he, because he’s one of the top coaches in the world.

Mallinder was sacked by Northampton last week (Getty)

“When you come down to a list of who really are the proven top class coaches, those that are will get talked about a lot.

“I would like to believe he will be here for the World Cup.”

Gatland is also due to receive a substantial financial bonus if he remains in the Wales job until the end of the next World Cup.