The British and Irish Lions are being urged to hire a Kiwi coach, with the duo of Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt both being touted for the side's 2021 tour to South Africa.
With aftermath of this year's World Cup expected to end in a coaching merry-go-round in international rugby, both Gatland and Scmidt will both leave their roles with Wales and Ireland respectively, freeing up the pair to take on the coveted Lions job.
Having been involved with the Lions since 2009, Gatland appeared to be prepared to walk away from the job in 2017, before refuting that suggestion just a week later.
Writing for the Times, world rugby writer of the year Owen Slot made the case for either Gatland or Schmidt leading the Lions for South Africa, with both Wales and Ireland currently in sensational form heading towards this year's Japan World Cup.
"If you were about to make a coaching appointment, then, who would you have top of your list? Gatland, surely," Slot began.
"Or maybe Joe Schmidt, the Ireland coach who won the grand slam last year and who is out of contract after the World Cup. Two clear favourites.
"So, if you want to sign one of these top two coaches for the 2021 tour, you would be advised to move fast."
However, with Gatland touted for possible jobs with either England, or in Super Rugby and Schmidt deciding to take a break from coaching, Lions bosses are being urged to secure a high profile coach as soon as possible.
"Ideally, the appointment would be made before the World Cup and he would start in January 2020."
"Clearly, this would suit a Gatland or a Schmidt. They could have one relatively quiet year before getting stuck into the real business a year later. Crucially, it would keep them out of the clutches of other employers."
England's Eddie Jones is another to have been touted as a potential Lions coach, after transforming England into World Cup contenders following their 2015 failure.
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