sport news Warren Gatland admits chance to avenge 2009 Lions heartache in South Africa was ...

The newly appointed British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has admitted the possibility of avenging the heartache of the 2009 South Africa Lions tour was too big an opportunity to turn down, despite a negative backlash after the New Zealand campaign.

This will be the 55-year-old's fourth tour and third as head coach, with only Sir Ian McGeechan leading more Lion's campaigns. He will take up his role on August 1 2020 and it will conclude at the end of the tour. 

Gatland would become the first unbeaten Lions coach against the Southern Hemisphere if he were to be successful against the Springboks.

Warren Gatland has admitted the chance to avenge the 2009 Lions Tour was too good to miss

Warren Gatland has admitted the chance to avenge the 2009 Lions Tour was too good to miss

Gatland will lead the British and Irish Lions during the 2021 tour of South Africa

Gatland will lead the British and Irish Lions during the 2021 tour of South Africa

The Kiwi had struggled with negative media attention during the 2017 Lions, which had forced him to question taking part in any future tours, but the Wales head coach - who was part of the 2009 coaching staff who lost 2-1 in South Africa - felt he could not turn down the chance of making history.

'The challenge for me as a head coach is to go undefeated in a test series,' said Gatland. 'If I was able to achieve that, and the squad were able to achieve that, that would be something pretty special. I have been extremely privileged to be involved and this will be my fourth tour. I am so thankful to be given the opportunity.

'I love the Lions as a concept, there were parts of the New Zealand tour that were incredibly challenging, it's probably the hardest thing you'll do as a coach, in terms of planning and preparation,' said Gatland.

'But the opportunity to go to South Africa where there is unfinished business, having been involved as head coach in the previous two tours - I couldn't turn my back then on this challenge of going and leading the Lions.' 

In 2013, the New Zealander masterminded the Lions to a 2-1 series win over Australia

In 2013, the New Zealander masterminded the Lions to a 2-1 series win over Australia

Gatland will be without his previous captain Sam Warburton - retiring in July 2018 - who was at the helm for both Australia and New Zealand, but has pinpointed some frontrunners for the high-pressured role.

'First of all, it has got to be somebody who has got the respect potentially of everyone in the squad,' said Gatland.

'Ideally you want someone to have been coming from a team that has been performing well and been successful. Alun Wyn Jones probably comes to mind at the moment in terms of

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