Warren Gatland intends to turn his back on Wales following next summer's British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand as he plots a return to the country he left almost a decade ago.

The New Zealander has been given an extended sabbatical from coaching Wales in order to focus on preparing for next summer's three-Test tour against the world champions, whose only series defeat to the Lions was back in 1971.

Sportsmail understands Gatland has alerted close friends of his plan to remain in New Zealand after the tour, having spent almost nine years living 12,000 miles from home and normally only seeing his family four times a year.

Warren Gatland intends to turn his back on Wales after next summer's British & Irish Lions tour

Gatland's departure would be a huge blow to Wales ahead of the 2019 World Cup

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young, the former Wales and Lions prop whose coaching stock has risen since taking over the Aviva Premiership outfit in 2011, negotiating one of the most difficult periods in the club's history — is understood to be the WRU's preferred replacement.

Gatland's departure would be a huge blow to Wales ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

The 53-year-old, who won the Grand Slam in his first season in charge in 2008, signed a six-year contract extension in 2013 understood to be worth more than £500,000 — making him the best paid coach in world rugby.

However, he is understood to be ready for a return to his homeland, where he has a wife and two grown-up children.

His son Bryn, who was educated in London when Gatland snr coached at Wasps from 2001, is a promising fly half who could well line up for Auckland Blues against the Lions after impressing for North Harbour this season.

'We don't really say it enough but we really appreciate what he's done for our family,' Bryn told Sportsmail earlier this year.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young is understood to be the WRU's preferred replacement

'He's the one who's over in Wales, he's been there since 2007 and he's been away from us.

'He says that Sundays can be a lonely day sometimes when you get a day off and your family's not around. For him to do that for us, we can't be thankful enough.

'We've been lucky enough to live in a few different countries, experience different cultures and make some really good friends along the way as well. That's one benefit that we can definitely get out of it.'

Earlier this year, Gatland's wife Trudi gave a revealing interview in which she compared being married to her overseas-based husband to life in the armed forces.

'I often compare it to husbands and wives in the forces, when one of the couple is away for long stretches. There are also people who commute or have highly powered careers who might not see each other a lot on a daily basis.'