'I'll never coach the Lions again' - Warren Gatland

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland said he was hurt by the public criticism of the coaching ticket on the summer tour to New Zealand and revealed that he will not be leading the side for the third successive tour in 2021.

"I'm done. I hated the tour," Gatland said. "I did. I just hated the press and the negativity in New Zealand. When I look back on it now there were a lot of things that were satisfying and what an achievement it was but it was tough work. It was hard.

"You watch how hard the coaches and the backroom staff worked -- they worked their absolute bollocks off on that tour -- and then to have someone come out and make a comment like that ... it really, really did hurt."

Gatland managed to secure a drawn Test series against the reigning World Champions in Eden Park in July but after previous tour's to Australia & New Zealand, the current Wales boss feels he has done his time and will not be putting his name forward for the tour to South Africa.

"I wouldn't subject myself to that," Gatland said. "What I've learned from my Lions' experiences is how difficult it is to put some continuity together in terms of people and staff and the lack of preparation time ... let someone else do it. Let someone else reinvent the wheel."

Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien criticised the preparation of the squad leading into the first Test in New Zealand and strongly believed the Lions should of ran out 3-0 victors over the All Blacks. He also commented on Rob Howley, who was in charge of attack, on his inability to control the group and added Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell ' drove everything ' in training the week running up to their second Test in Wellington.

"I was disappointed," Gatland said of O'Brien's comments. "I have to be honest -- it took a bit of the gloss off the Lions tour. If he wanted to say something then there is a different forum rather than being critical.

Gatland revealed he tried to get in contact with O'Brien when he first heard his comments in the public domain:

'' I rang and left a message to say I was disappointed. He texted me three weeks later to say that he had just cleared his voicemail. And that he had been taken out context, or some things. I texted to say he could call me at any time but I've not heard back from him."

As Gatland gears up for a four-Test autumn series, he will once again face off against the mighty All Blacks but this time he will be cheering on a different shade of Red.