England head coach Eddie Jones favourite for Lions job after Warren Gatland rules himself out

Eddie Jones will be installed as favourite to lead the Lions in South Africa in 2021 after Warren Gatland revealed he is “done” with tours, following the personal attacks he suffered during and after the drawn series against New Zealand.

Jones, whose contract with England ends at the end of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, could form a coaching dream team with Gregor Townsend, who is an outstanding backs coach and was wanted by Gatland for the New Zealand tour. Instead, Townsend opted to take Scotland on tour to Australia after taking over from Vern Cotter.

Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien launched an attack on Gatland’s coaching set-up after the tour, while the Kiwi also faced a hostile press in his homeland.

Wales head coach Gatland said yesterday: “I wouldn’t subject myself to that again. Let someone else do it. I’m done. I hated the tour... I did. I just hated the press and the negativity in New Zealand. When I look back on it now, there were a lot of things that were satisfying and what an achievement it was, but it was tough work.

“You watch how hard the coaches and backroom staff worked on that tour. Sean’s comments were disrespectful to New Zealand, saying that we should have comfortably won the series 3-0. I don’t know what planet he’s on, but I was on a different tour to him if he thought we should have won comfortably.

“I was disappointed, I have to be honest. It took a bit of the gloss off the tour. No one in the history of the game has ever taken on a tour of that magnitude or difficulty. Then, to have someone come out and make a comment like that, it really, really did hurt.”

Gatland was an assistant coach with the Lions in 2009 and led the most famous touring team in the world to a series triumph over Australia in 2013. His Wales contract also expires after the 2019 World Cup.

England head coach Jones made it clear earlier this year that coaching the Lions in 2021 would be on his radar. “I am open to everything, said the Australian.

“I don’t sit there at night and think, ‘I hope I am going to be the next Lions coach’. It is such a unique job which is decided at a certain time — and if you are in the market, then you are going to get a call. I wouldn’t say no but I am not saying yes.

“The only thing I’m concerned about at the moment is coaching England — and I’m doing that until 2019. Then we’ll see where we go, whether I continue coaching or I go and watch cricket in Barbados. I’ve never said no to anything — I’m open to everything.”