Warren Gatland
Warren Gatland David ( born September 17, 1963 in Hamilton ) is a former New Zealand rugby union player and current coach of the Welsh national team.
Playing career
Gatland played as a youth for many school choices, then still as number eight. In 1985, he was inducted into the reserve team of Waikato and played from then on as a hooker. A year later he made his debut in the first team. In 1988 he took over the captaincy. Overall, he ran 140 times for the New Zealand region, at that time a record. During his time at Waikato managed the team, among others, Wales and the British and Irish Lions to beat.
In 1988, he was first appointed to the cadres of the All Blacks. He made his debut in the game against Western Australia. Overall, he was 17 times used, but it was an official Test match granted.
Coaching career
Even before the end of his playing career Gatland has already appeared in his first coaching job. After the tour of New Zealand to Ireland, he was hired by the Galwegians RFC. He brought the club to the second division of the All-Ireland League. After he had stopped as a player with the active Rugby, he went to the Thames Valley Rugby Football Union and won with the team In 1995, the third division of the National Provincial Championships. Then he moved back to Ireland to the province of Connacht, which he led in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
He inherited in 1998 Brian Ashton as coach of Ireland. He remained until 2001 in this office until replaced him his assistant Eddie O'Sullivan. Under Gatland, the Irish were two places went up in the IRB World Rankings and were once second in the Six Nations. These, however, came the disappointing elimination in the second round of the World Cup 1999.
After his contract was not renewed, he moved to the London Wasps, who were at that time at the end of the table Aviva Premiership. First, he was one of the assistants of Nigel Melville, but in 2002 moved to Gloucester. With the assumption of office by the Gatland Wasps developed into one of the dominant clubs in Europe. From 2003 to 2005 it was three times English champions. Then there are the victories in the European Challenge Cup in 2003 and winning the Heineken Cup 2004.
Following his successful time in the Wasps Gatland went back to New Zealand and worked for his local association Waikato. In the second year of his tenure, the team managed to win the Air New Zealand Cup. He also worked as a consultant for the Super 14 franchise Chiefs.
Prior to the Six Nations in 2008, he took over the post of national coach of Wales. The first game was played under him against England and ended with the first away win in 20 years. With wins over Scotland and Ireland succeeded in winning the Triple Crown. After Italy and France were defeated, Wales won the tenth Grand Slam history, exactly 100 years after the first.
Gatland will act in the upcoming tour of the British and Irish Lions in June 2009 as assistant coach Ian McGeechan of and care for the striker in the national team.
Achievements
As a player
- National Provincial Championship: winner 1992
- 17 games for the All Blacks
As coach
- Six Nations: Grand Slam in 2008
- Heineken Cup: Winner 2004
- European Challenge Cup: Winner 2003
- Guinness Premiership: winner in 2003, 2004, 2005
- Air New Zealand Cup: Winner 2006