The British and Irish Lions have moved swiftly to secure the services of Warren Gatland to be their head coach of the South Africa tour in 2021.

Negotiations with Gatland, which have been led by the Lions' new managing director Ben Calveley, have concluded ahead of schedule and a verbal agreement has been reached with the Wales coach which will see the New Zealander make history by taking charge of his third successive tour.

The contract is expected to be signed next week when Gatland returns from New Zealand, having made an emergency trip their to spend time with his son Bryn, who suffered a serious, season-ending foot injury last month playing for the Highlanders.

“It is a done deal,” said one senior source. “The Lions were clear about who they wanted and have gone and got their man.”

Gatland has the backing of the Welsh Rugby Union but understandably they are keen for the announcement to be made before Wales meet up for their first full World Cup training camp so that it does not cause any distraction to their preparations for the tournament in Japan, which starts in September.