Could Steve Hansen take the place of Warren Gatland when the next British and Irish Lions tour rolls around?

Departing All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has been thrown up as a contender to be the next man in charge of the British and Irish Lions.

On Friday Hansen announced he would be stepping down from his post at the end of next year's World Cup in Japan, and just what his next move will be, he said even he is unsure of.

But one possibility which has been tossed out there in the British press is that he could be an ideal candidate to lead the Lions' next tour, to South Africa in 2021.

Writing in The Times, John Westerby anticipates Hansen possibly going into a consultancy role with an emerging nation such as Georgia, Samoa or Fiji, however he also sees a "mouthwatering possibility" in him leading the Lions.

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"[It's] one which would enable him to remain active towards the top of the game, to work with some of the world's leading players, without boosting the fortunes of one of the All Blacks' rivals," he writes.

PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Steve Hansen, left and New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew know the importance of protecting intellectual property.

That is seen as a key part of the idea, with Westerby noting England's interim RFU chief executive Nigel Melville, when he next month begins the search for a successor to Eddie Jones, may consider sounding Hansen out but be up against it because of the protection of intellectual property.

"In a sport dominated by a handful of nations, there are not enough coaches around with a successful international track record to overlook.

"But he would have his work cut out in persuading Hansen, not least because of the All Blacks' preference for keeping their secrets safe when their former coaches are on the market."

So the Lions job presents something unique.

Warren Gatland, who is stepping down from his Wales gig after the World Cup, has led the Lions' last two tours, but Westerby sees him likely preferring a new challenge, while he labels fellow Kiwi Joe Schmidt a contender after he finishes with Ireland next year, but that the Lions' limited preparation time may not suit his meticulousness.

"So why not Hansen? Working with the best of British would not require him to bring the secrets of the All Blacks' playbook to the northern hemisphere and he has plentiful knowledge of playing against the Springboks," he writes.

"The previous Lions series did not go according to plan for Hansen, a drawn series seen as a disappointing result for his All Blacks side on home soil. It would be quite some tale if he were to be more successful in the next Lions series, this time leading the side wearing red."