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Warren Gatland will NOT be quitting Wales after next summer’s Lions tour of New Zealand.

He contacted WalesOnline to set the record straight after being hurt by a claim in a London newspaper he would leave his position with the WRU two years early.

The New Zealander is contracted to Wales until the end of the 2019 World Cup in Japan and vowed to see out his deal.

Gatland revealed former Super Rugby champions Chiefs, who are based in his home city of Hamilton and sensationally beat Wales last June, had sounded him out about succeeding Glasgow-bound Dave Rennie as the franchise’s coach in 2018.

He said: “The Chiefs spoke to me about three months ago but I told them it was a non-starter until my contract runs out with Wales.”

The 53-year-old doesn’t plan on seeking an extension to his Wales position when his contract runs out in three years time, with 2019 marking the end of a reign that has already brought three Six Nations titles, a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final.

“I told the Chiefs I would be interested after 2019 but there’s no way I would leave Wales or the Lions now,” said Gatland, from his Christmas break in New Zealand.

He is on a salary of about £450,000 a year with the WRU but is on a sabbatical with the Lions this season ahead of the attempt to beat the All Blacks in a Test series for only the second time in history.

An incredulous Gatland asked: “Why would I leave Wales to go to no job and no salary when I’m contracted to the WRU until 2019?”

During a private conversation with WalesOnline three weeks ago, he had enthusiastically discussed his plans for Wales and hopes for Welsh rugby post-Lions.

And Gatland was bewildered at the story in the Mail on Sunday claiming he had told close confidantes he had presided over his last fixture as Wales coach.

“This is a terrible story that someone has done to try to cause trouble,” he speculated.

“I don’t even know the reporter who wrote it. How could he even know my close friends?

“All my focus is on is the Lions and Wales. I repeat, I’m not going anywhere until after the 2019 World Cup. End of story!”