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Warren Gatland denies being approached by England

The 55-year-old has named his training squad for the World Cup.

Warren Gatland has not been approached by England over replacing Eddie Jones, the Wales head coach has said.

Gatland will leave his role with Wales after this year's Rugby World Cup following a successful 12 years in charge and has been linked with becoming England boss.

The 55-year-old said he has been contacted over his future but insisted the Rugby Football Union was not among the suitors so far.

Warren Gatland, left, has been linked with replacing Eddie Jones, right, as England boss
Warren Gatland, left, has been linked with replacing Eddie Jones, right, as England boss (David Davies/PA)

"I have had quite a number of approaches from different sources," said Gatland.

"It is a matter of making the right decision at the right time, so it's just weighing those things up.

"To be honest, my whole focus is about the next six or seven months, Wales and the World Cup.

"I haven't spoken to England at all. I think they were quite clear in what they were doing in terms of they wouldn't be making any appointments or talking to anyone until post-Rugby World Cup."

Gatland was speaking after naming aĀ 42-man Wales World Cup training squad that included uncapped Cardiff Blues players Owen Lane and Rhys Carre.

Prop Carre, who will join Saracens later this year, and wing Lane are in a group that comprises 19 backs and 23 forwards.

Gatland has included 36 of his squad selected for this season's Six Nations, when Wales were crowned Grand Slam champions.

Bath's British and Irish Lions number eight Taulupe Faletau, who has missed much of this season due to injury, is selected, along with back-row colleagues Aaron Shingler and James Davies.

There is also a place for experienced Ospreys lock Bradley Davies as Wales face a busy summer of preparation that features four warm-up Tests.

Injured flankers Ellis Jenkins and Thomas Young are both excluded, but could come into consideration later this summer depending on their recoveries.

Gatland said: "It is exciting to name our training squad and to get the RWC ball rolling.

Wales v New Zealand ā€“ Autumn International ā€“ Principality Stadium
Taulupe Faletau is in contention for a place in Wales' World Cup squad if he can prove his fitness after injury. (Joe Giddens/PA)

"We've named a 42-man squad, packed with experience. A good number of the Grand Slam-winning squad are in there, plus some players who have returned from injury.

"The last couple of years have been about building depth and exposing players, and we have done that well, so we have kept the numbers down to make the squad as manageable as possible.

"We have been really impressed with Rhys and with Owen. They have both been on our succession plan for a while, and it will be good to have them in camp with us and to see what they are able to do."

Wales kick off their World Cup campaign in Japan against Georgia on September 23, which is followed by pool stage appointments with Australia, Fiji and Uruguay.

Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues ā€“ Challenge Cup ā€“ Quarter Final ā€“ BT Murrayfield
Cardiff's Owen Lane, left,Ā  is one of two uncapped players in a provisional 42-man Wales squad ahead of the World Cup. (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Wales' busy summer of preparation will be spearheaded by home and away games against England and Ireland, starting at Twickenham on August 11 and finishing in Dublin 27 days later.

Gatland is set to name his final World Cup squad during the week of the second Ireland game.

The New Zealander will also oversee training camp trips to Switzerland in July and Turkey the following month.

Wales will replicate their 2015 World Cup build-up in Switzerland, again basing themselves at Fiesch in the Swiss Alps for two weeks.

On August 18 they will depart for warm-weather training at Turkey's Gloria Sports Arena before heading to Japan just over three weeks later and a further training camp in Kitakyushu.

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Wales head coach Warren Gatland celebrates after seeing his side win the Six Nations Grand Slam on March 16, 2019
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