Roger Lewis hopes that Warren Gatland will stay on as Wales coach © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Roger Lewis | Warren Gatland

Teams: Wales

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis has admitted that he will try to lure Wales coach Warren Gatland into extending his deal beyond next year's Rugby World Cup.

The Kiwi coach has been linked with the All Blacks job as well as succeeding Ian Foster as coach of the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise following the tournament.

Gatland is currently contracted with the union through to the 2011 tournament but Lewis is keen to extend his stay. After taking over from Gareth Jenkins in the wake of a disastrous showing at the 2007 World Cup, Gatland succeeded in restoring a feel-good factor to Welsh rugby with a 2008 Grand Slam.

"The certainty is that Warren is with us through to the World Cup," Lewis told BBC Sport. "And now leading up the World Cup we will need to be considering what after the World Cup and everyone knows my support for Warren and what he has achieved.

"I want a winning coach and I believe what Warren has delivered so far is outstanding for Wales so that gives you a glimpse of my support for Warren. But there are other things to bear in mind with an international coach such as Warren is what else is on his agenda for his career and also his life in general.

"He has two teenage children and we need to be mindful of that. It is not just a question of what we want but also what he wants and also how it fits in with his career and life as well. I think Warren has been outstanding for Wales and must get what is right for Wales but Warren as well. But the coming months will be important for what we do after the World Cup."

Wales have been drawn in Pool D at the tournament in New Zealand, alongside reigning champions South Africa, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia.