Gatland has become increasingly frustrated at the political wranglings in Wales © Getty Images

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Teams Wales

Warren Gatland has thrown a hand grenade into Welsh rugby's political minefield by revealing he has questioned his position as national coach.

Wales supremo Gatland's startling admission comes on the eve of him formally joining the Lions coaching staff for next summer's South Africa tour. Gatland is expected to coach the Lions forwards, with his current Wales assistants Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley working on defence and attack respectively.

The Wales contingent will be further enhanced by conditioning coach Craig White and chief analyst Rhys Long also making the 10-match Lions trip. The appointments will be ratified by Lions chiefs in Dublin tomorrow and may give Gatland a 24-hour respite from an escalating political situation.

As Gatland announced his 32-man squad for next month's Tests against South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, so Wales four professional regions were raising the stakes. After branding themselves as Regional Rugby Wales, the four regions - Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - unveiled former Welsh Rugby Union boss David Moffett as their interim chief executive.

But while Welsh rugby's movers and shakers prepared for more political posturing - and no-nonsense Moffett's arrival has certainly upped the ante - Gatland still does not know when he can assemble his players ahead of facing world champions South Africa on November 8. The regions are adamant they will not be released for the autumn opener until after the final round of EDF Energy Cup pool games, which conclude with the Ospreys visiting London Irish on November 2.

And Gatland's body language today was that of a man who might just be losing patience.

He said: "It has taken the gloss off my position. You just feel frustrated that the two sides can't get together and thrash it out. I might have to look at it if this carries on. I have already questioned my position at the moment.

"It's no good for anyone if you send out a team that gets well beaten because it is not prepared. There is pressure on performance and results."

New Zealander Gatland led Wales to the RBS 6 Nations title and a Grand Slam during his first five games at the helm last season. His contract with the Welsh Rugby Union incorporates the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

He added: "I didn't think there was anything outside the existing Participation Agreement that I was asking for. Under the current agreement (between regions and WRU), it is 13 days (release) for the November Tests and 13 days for the Six Nations.

"I wasn't asking for anything extra in terms of training days. The relationship with the regions at the coalface is probably better than it has ever been, but this goes deeper than that. Unfortunately, the players and national management have been dragged into non-rugby issues.

"It is a huge year for the players, in terms of the autumn up against three of the best sides in the world, then the Six Nations and a Lions tour at the end of it. If I was some of the players, I would be a little bit concerned that a couple of poor performances in the autumn might have a bearing on the end of the season.

"I think everyone realises that five days' preparation going into an international match these days is not ideal. I have been pretty despondent over the whole thing, I've got to admit that. We had a meeting a couple of weeks ago when I said there was no winner here - we don't win, the regions don't win - and one of the (regional) chief executive officers replied 'That's Welsh rugby for you.'

"I said 'That's not good enough.' We need to sort this out, going forward, and make sure these problems are solved. Even though it might have been reported we were looking for the full 13 days, we were more than happy to have the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (next week), then release the players back.

"It wasn't taking them out of the last round of EDF games. I think that's a compromise. We get some time with the players and the regions get their players back on Wednesday evening so they are available for the following weekend."

While Gatland welcomed Moffett to what he termed 'a soap opera,' the regions issued a second strongly-worded statement in five days.

RRW, as they are now known, said: "Since the advent of regional rugby in Wales and the signing of a participation agreement with the WRU in 2004, it has become clear that a stronger partnership approach to the running and administration of professional rugby in Wales is now required.

"Other nations, including England and France, have met similar challenges by creating progressive partnerships between their professional tiers and respective governing bodies, and we believe such an approach in Wales is long overdue.

"This need is highlighted by the attempts over the past 18 months to reach a conclusion over an extended participation agreement, which is due to expire in May next year. Having reached a basis of agreement with the WRU in May last year, culminating in a written offer from the Union, we have since found ourselves back at the drawing board after the Union inexplicably withdrew the agreed offer it had made.

"Most recently, the issue of player release has been the latest indication that a more considered approach to the game must be adopted. The mid-season request for additional player release at the expense of existing, scheduled, professional cross-border competition only goes to highlight the current lack of well-considered strategic planning."

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