Wasps' owner Chris Wright is confident that the coach Warren Gatland, who has led them to four trophies in the past two seasons, including consecutive Premiership titles, will see out his contract with the club.

Gatland, who hinted last month that he was considering returning to his native New Zealand next summer for family reasons with a year still to run on his contract, was in talks with Wright this week.

"After speaking to him I expect him to see out his contract with us," Wright said. "He has been fantastic for Wasps and would be very hard to replace. I do not want him to leave, but he and his wife are New Zealanders and it is natural that they will want to return home at some point . . . but I think it will be a couple of years away."

Wasps will play at Wycombe's Causeway Stadium again next season, but by March 31 Wright must decide whether to remain at the 10,000-seat ground or move back to Loftus Road.

The former England wing Austin Healey, meanwhile, has signed a fresh contract with Leicester, and Northampton have appointed their former captain Budge Pountney as assistant strength-and-conditioning coach.

The RFU has rejected a proposed merger between Wakefield and the amateur club Sale FC, saying it would have involved Wakefield playing home games in Greater Manchester and allowed Sale FC to move up eight levels of the league system.