The Welsh Rugby Union have announced that Head Coach Warren Gatland has re-signed with the Union and will stay on until the end of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The WRU Group Chief executive Roger Lewis concluded negotiations with the New Zealander over the weekend. An agreement has been reached to extend the original contract which took his tenure in charge until the 2011 RWC.

Warren Gatland will continue to coach the senior Wales squad and work with the WRU Performance and Development team to develop a robust player succession plan to identify and nurture the international stars of the future.

During the 6 Nations tournament this season Warren Gatland will become the longest serving coach of Wales and is now set to write an important new chapter in the history of the game as the WRU enters its 130th season.

His first new challenge after this announcement will be against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on 6th November in the opening game of the 2010 Autumn test Series.

Warren Gatland said: “I am proud and delighted to have been chosen by the Welsh Rugby Union to take charge of the Wales team until the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

“I have chosen to stay in Wales because of my confidence in the players we have, the coaching structures we have developed and the succession plan of talent we now constantly update, all fully resourced and supported by the WRU.

“I know the other major rugby nations take us seriously as opponents who can play excellent rugby and that inspires me to help take this group of players even further.

“There is an incredible amount of hard work ahead but, with the continued backing of the Welsh Rugby Union, the national squad now has the means to deliver what the Welsh public want.

“We have a powerful agreement with our Regions, the international player pathway structure is starting to pay dividends and the WRU National Centre of Excellence is a fantastic facility.

“Our best players are now developed within a totally professional structure and the backroom team we have in place boasts some of the best people around in their areas of expertise.

“I made no secret of the family reasons which have made me consider returning to the southern hemisphere, but it is a measure of how devoted I am to Wales that I want to stay.

“I want to personally thank the WRU and the Welsh rugby public for the fantastic support the national squad enjoys and I aim to return the compliment by devoting all my professional energy to the success of our national team in the years ahead.

“I am looking forward to the challenge and I am extremely proud of the honour I have in taking Wales into the next two Rugby World Cups.”

WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, declared: “I am very pleased to be able to announce that Warren Gatland will remain Head Coach of Wales until after the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

“We have a meticulous and professional coaching and rugby management structure in place which is a great credit to Warren.