Warren Gatland free to lead 2013 Lions tour of Australia

Warren Gatland will be free to coach the British and Irish Lions on their 2013 tour of Australia after it emerged his new Wales contract contains a timely five-month break clause.

Gatland plans to appoint a junior coaching team to lead Wales on their tour to Japan that summer after the Welsh Rugby Union agreed he could take a sabbatical.

The former All Blacks hooker insisted the Lions did not feature in negotiations over his four-year deal and that he just wanted a chance to spend some time back in New Zealand. But Gatland is considered to be one of the leading candidates to coach the Lions in 2013 - and he refused to rule out the possibility.

"Wales have agreed that for 2013, while the Lions are touring and Wales play Japan for a couple of games, I could appoint some younger coaches which would enable me to spend four or five months back in New Zealand," said Gatland, Lions forwards coach on their epic 2009 Test series defeat in South Africa.

"For a Lions team to be successful is incredibly hard. It was a fantastic experience and an honour and a privilege to be involved with the players. To do it again? We'll just have to see."

Lions tour manager Andy Irvine said earlier this week it was unlikely any of the home nations coaches would be considered unless they could secure at least partial release from the 2013 Six Nations.

"We'll be speaking to the WRU to see what level of commitment he must give to them as opposed to the Lions," Irvine said. "If we weren't looking for a complete release of Warren by the WRU, then certainly a partial release."