Warren Gatland replaced Gareth Jenkins as coach in December 2007

Warren Gatland is pondering his future beyond the 2011 Rugby World Cup when his contract as Wales coach expires.

The New Zealander has been touted as a possible replacement for current New Zealand coach Graham Henry, who is due to step down after the 2011 tournament.

Wales' 2008 Grand Slam coach has also been linked to the Waikato-based Chiefs role Ian Foster is to vacate ahead of the 2012 Super 15 season.

And Gatland admits: "I do have a few options on the table at the moment."

The Kiwi signed a four-year deal with the Welsh Rugby Union when he replaced the sacked Gareth Jenkins in December 2007 after a dismal display in the 2007 Rugby World Cup when Wales were eliminated in the group stages.

Gatland, who inspired London Wasps to Heineken Cup glory in 2004 and three successive English Premiership titles, guided Wales to the Grand Slam in his first Six Nations campaign in 2008.

And now the 46-year-old is apparently among the favourites to succeed Henry, another Kiwi who has coached Wales, when he relinquishes his post - one of world rugby's most prestigious coaching roles - after the World Cup in New Zealand.

606: DEBATE Now we all know that Warren Gatland would like to be NZ next coach - so when he talks about getting the respect of the people is he talking about the team or himself majesticimperialman

Henry's current assistant Steve Hansen, another former Wales coach, is said to be the front-runner to be the next All Black boss.

Gatland is also being heavily linked with a home-coming to replace Foster as coach to Super 15 franchise Waikato Chiefs - based in Gatland's home city of Hamilton - when Foster stands down at the end of next season's competition.

Gatland watched his Wales side lost 29-10 to the All Blacks in at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday.

The Wales coach, who played almost 150 games as hooker for Waikato between 1986 and 1994, and his team had spent much of the second Test build-up in the Hamilton community on a charm offensive.

Gatland took his team for a training session at a local school and the squad undertook a traditional Maori experience on Hamilton's Waikato river in a bid to win some local support as Wales will play both Samoa and Fiji in the North Island city in next year's Rugby World Cup staged in New Zealand.

Gatland coached Waikato to the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup - the level below the Super 15 tournament - after returning home following his stint at Wasps and has great pride in his roots.

Before Saturday's defeat to the All Blacks, Gatland insisted he wanted he and his team to earn the respect of New Zealand's rugby public.

He said: "Thing is about New Zealand is whatever you achieve outside this country, unless you perform here you don't earn the respect of the New Zealand public, fans or media - and that is a fact of reality."

The Kiwi has previously expressed his desire to be All Blacks coach one day, but he insisted after Saturday's defeat in Hamilton that his focus is on Wales' World Cup bid.

Speaking about a return home, Gatland said: "It is not something that I am worried or concerned about.

"I do have a few options on the table at the moment and I'm that sure that things will pan out between now and the World Cup."

Asked about a return to Hamilton to coach the Chiefs, Gatland said: "It is not something I have thought about.

"My whole focus is on Wales and doing the best that we can in 2011 - that is the most important thing on my mind so I'm not thinking about myself or my future.

"I'm committed to doing a really good job for Wales, that is hugely important for me.

"I'm passionate about the group of players and what excites me is about getting these players before the World Cup for four or five months where you can make a lot of progress both individually and collectively as a team - as it would be like being with a club side again."

Wales' previous best World Cup performance came in the inaugural 1987 tournament hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand.

The Welsh side led by Richard Moriarty, coached by Tony Gray and including Jonathan Davies finished third after beating Australia 22-21 in the third-place play-off in Rotorua.

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