All Blacks coaches queue up for Wasps job

Former All Blacks coaches Robbie Deans and John Mitchell have joined present coach Shaun Edwards on the short list to replace Warren Gatland as London Wasps director of rugby next season.

Gatland wants to take his wife and two children home to New Zealand after nine years out of the country. The move could land him an immediate job with the Waikato province, where he played.

Mitchell, the former Wasps coach, is now in charge of Waikato but is being offered the chance to assist Australia coach Eddie Jones or to head up a new Super 14 franchise in Perth. Now there is also the possibility of returning to England.

If Mitchell is allowed to leave Waikato a year early, it would clear the way for Gatland to take up a new role at home. His ultimate aim is to land the All Blacks job but accepts he must coach a Provincial or Super 12 side first.

The Wasps board has "reluctantly" accepted Gatland's decision to go after two doublewinning seasons. They are European and English champions and could still reach the Zurich Premiership final this season.

"That would be the perfect finale," said Gatland, who joined the club in 2002.

"I am leaving Wasps in great shape, with a lot of great young players coming through, and my successor will have the money to bring in two or three top quality players."

That man could be Edwards. He is popular at the club and may opt to form a partnership with Craig Dowd, the former All Blacks prop.

Gatland added: "I do not have a job to go to at the moment and I will see what comes up when I get back to either Hamilton or Auckland, depending where we decide to live. It's time for me to put my family first."

Meanwhile, Serge Betsen has been cleared to play for France in Sunday's Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham.

Wasps lodged a protest, claiming Betsen tripped Stuart Abbott during a crucial Heineken Cup pool clash last month. The England centre suffered a broken leg and is unlikely to play again this season.

The three-man panel ruled that Betsen deliberately tripped Abbott, but decided it was not premeditated.