Warren Gatland has broken both of his legs after a fall from a ladder back in his native New Zealand. The 48-year-old Wales coach's return to work has been delayed as he recovers from the accident, which happened on Easter Monday.

The WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "We all wish Warren a speedy recovery from the injuries he has suffered in this extremely unfortunate accident."

Gatland had been working at his Waihi Beach holiday house, on the Bay of Plenty, and was cleaning windows when he lost his balance and fell around 10 feet on to concrete, taking the full impact on his heels. He suffered multiple fractures to the right calcaneus and also a fracture to the left calcaneus.

Consequently, he is in leg casts and requires surgery to reconstruct his right heel.

It is not yet known whether the injuries he suffered will have any major impact on the continuing preparations for Wales's matches in June, when they will host the Barbarians in Cardiff and undergo a three-Test tour of Australia, although the WRU has put plans in place for some of the coaching duties to be managed by Gatland's assistants.

The assistant coach Rob Howley will oversee day-to-day management of the staff in Wales, while Gatland will continue to receive information primarily from Rob Howley, Robin McBryde, Shaun Edwards and Neil Jenkins as they observe and monitor squad players and potential players over the next few weeks.

Lewis has approved the plan for temporary injury cover and he has indicated that although there is no current requirement for any of the staff to be appointed caretaker head coach, he and Gatland have agreed to recommend to the WRU Board that Howley would fill the role if required.

It could be several weeks before Gatland fully recovers, although he is expected to be able to return to active coaching duties before his recuperation is complete.

Lewis said: "We all wish Warren a speedy recovery from the injuries he has suffered in this extremely unfortunate accident. Knowing Warren as I do, I can reassure the Welsh rugby public that he has diligently put the people and processes in place to ensure he stays closely linked to what is happening in the game back here in Wales.

"I have spoken to Warren on a number of occasions since his fall and have told him he will lead the tour to Australia unless anything unforeseen happens in the prognosis for recovery we are working to."