Williams has won two Grand Slams with Wales

Warren Gatland believes veteran flanker Martyn Williams can play for Wales at the next World Cup in 2011.

The 32-year-old quit Test rugby after the 2007 World Cup but returned to the fold to help Wales win the Grand Slam.

Williams, capped 81 times, will be 36 by the time of the World Cup in New Zealand, but the Wales coach said: "I don't think age should be a barrier.

"His form is outstanding and if we look after him well enough I think we can get him through to the 2011 World Cup."

A telephone call from Gatland, who took over from Gareth Jenkins as national coach after Wales were knocked out of the World Cup in France by Fiji, persuaded Williams to make an international retirement U-turn.

The Cardiff Blues flanker later admitted his decision to retire was "rash" and went on to play a key role as Wales ended this season's Six Nations undefeated.

"It will be about careful management of him by ourselves and the Blues over that period," added Gatland. "During that period another young No 7, or more than one, will come through and put him under pressure.

Ryan Jones would have to be one of the players you'd consider among the front-runners to be a Lions captain Warren Gatland

"Players of 34 or 35 can still have a big contribution. We saw that in 2003 and last year's World Cup when a number of teams had players in their 30s."

Such has been Williams' form that the back-rower is expected to tour with the British and Irish Lions for the third time.

And Gatland, who has been linked with the job of coaching the Lions, refused to rule out playing some sort of role on next year's tour of South Africa.

"I don't think my name has been put forward and that's understandable. You've got to respect the WRU wanting to protect their interests," said the New Zealander.

"I fully appreciate they need to do that by making sure I do the best job I can for Welsh rugby.

"I've only been in the job for one year and it's about making sure my sole responsibility is on Wales.

"My name hasn't been put forward by Wales, but that doesn't mean there won't be some involvement in the future."

Gatland said Wales captain Ryan Jones was one of the leading candidates to lead the Lions during their six-week trip, which starts against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg on 30 May.

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"Ryan would have to be one of the players you'd have to consider among the front-runners to be a Lions captain, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and the tour.

"That's about us continuing the challenge of being successful and Ryan staying fit.

"You often find a Lions captain tends to be from a side that's playing with confidence and has been successful during a Six Nations, and that's the challenge for Ryan as an individual to keep his form as a player and make sure we have a successful campaign."

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