Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby

All Blacks captain Kieran Read and Lions skipper Sam Warburton share the trophy after the drawn 2017 series

Warren Gatland has held "informal conversations" over coaching the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

The Wales coach, who will step down after the 2019 World Cup, has overseen two previous Lions tours.

Gatland led the tourists to a 2-1 win against Australia in 2013 and a drawn series in New Zealand four years later.

The 55-year-old has now said a third tour in charge is "definitely a possibility".

The New Zealander was speaking at a Welsh Rugby Union event in Cardiff on Wednesday night.

Gatland told an audience of Welsh rugby supporters he would take a break from the game after standing down as Wales coach following the Rugby World Cup in Japan this autumn.

The Wales boss admitted he could then potentially take the Lions role for the 12 months in the lead-up to the 2021 tour of South Africa, where 10 years ago he was forwards coach in Sir Ian McGeechan's team.

McGeechan is the only man to lead the Lions on three successive tours and Gatland could follow suit.

A Lions spokesperson said: "There will be a number of candidates looked at for the position of British & Irish Lions head coach for the 2021 tour.

"That process hasn't begun yet, but decisions will be made in due course. The recruitment process has not yet been agreed."

Following the drawn series in New Zealand - the Lions have only won once there in 100 years - Gatland had initially suggested he would be prepared to take charge of the Lions for a third successive time in South Africa.

But in the aftermath of the tour, during which he was parodied in the New Zealand press as a clown, Gatland said in October 2017 he would not put himself forward to face the Springboks: "I wouldn't subject myself to that.

"I'm done. I hated the tour. I did. I just hated the press and the negativity in New Zealand.

"What I've learned from my Lions' experiences is how difficult it is to put some continuity together in terms of people and staff, and the lack of preparation time. Let someone else do it. Let someone else reinvent the wheel."

Wales have 'great chance' of winning Six Nations

Gatland said he had been "hurt" by criticism from within the Lions camp following comments from Irish flanker Sean O'Brien that the team could have won the series 3-0 with better coaching.

But Gatland says he will consider a third Lions tour in charge, although he admitted he was also looking at other options.

The former hooker said at the time there was "something magical about the Lions" and he hoped the game's senior figures will help to preserve that magic.

He has called for the Lions squad to be given a week of preparation time before flying to South Africa for the 2021 tour.

This was following indications from English Premiership Rugby boss Mark McCafferty the Aviva Premiership will not shorten the 2020-21 season by a week to accommodate the Lions.

Gatland was speaking alongside former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton, ex Wales and Lions number 8 Scott Quinnell, WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips and commentator and former international Eddie Butler.

What the pundits say

BBC Radio Five Live pundits had a mixed view on a return for Gatland during Matt Dawson's rugby show.

Former Wales and Lions flanker Martyn Williams (Lions 2001, 2005, 2009): "I can't see a downside for anybody. There would be no disruption for any of the home nations with coaches leaving that year.

"He knows how the mechanics of the Lions work and is a proven winner. He has shown in the last decade or 15 years, when he gets a few weeks to prepare a team, he is one of the best in the world."

Former England and Lions scrum Matt Dawson (Lions 1997, 2001, 2005): "It is not an easy gig to blood a new coach into, they have tried with Clive Woodward and Graham Henry.

"So to have someone who is very passionate about it and wants to do it, absolutely gets my vote."

Ex Ireland and Lions wing Shane Horgan (2005): "Joe Schmidt would get my vote. If they can lure him back from retirement.

"I don't know how long he is going to take out of the game, but he is going to come back at some point.

"That would be a phenomenal gig for him and also he would bring something incredibly special to it."