Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has confirmed he has reached out to Warren Gatland to express interest in forming part of the British & Irish Lions coaching group next year.

Robertson, who missed out on the All Blacks coaching job, told a New Zealand radio show that he has turned his attention to the possibility of taking up a role with the Lions.

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‘Once I missed the All Blacks job I actually reached out to Gats and asked him if I could go on that tour [to South Africa],’ Robertson said.

‘I thought, look if I can’t be involved with the All Blacks, what’s the biggest thing – or actually bigger in its own self – the Lions tour – to get involved.’

Robertson recently led the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Aotearoa title, and said he was now hoping to be involved in international action.

‘Obviously there’s a lot to work out with Covid and the British & Irish Lions tour. But we had a couple good conversations since and he’s got to go through his line of management to make a decision,’ Robertson said.

‘Obviously Gats has been hugely successful at the international level as a coach, so he’s a person to learn off and also allows me to not have to go offshore to actually coach and get that international experience.’