Warren Gatland has been named British and Irish Lions coach for the second time and can lead them on the 2017 tour of recent island.
The Kiwi can step down from his job with Wales and get replaced on a short lived basis by Rob Howley.
"It's a large honour once you get offered most likely the most important job in world rugby football against the most effective opposition in world rugby football," aforementioned Gatland.
The Lions haven't won a series against New island since 1971.
"When i used to be offered the position, it absolutely was positively a 'yes' straightaway," additional Gatland. "To challenge yourself against the most effective, there's no larger challenge."
Howley took over from Gatland the last time the 52-year-old took on the Lions role in 2013, after they visited Australia and claimed a 2-1 series win.
Gatland intends to travel New island on Th with tour manager and former England captain John Herbert Spencer to begin designing.
The Lions face ten games on what is going to be a particularly difficult trip, which incorporates 3 Tests against the All Blacks - undefeated on home soil since 2009.
Gatland expressed his concern regarding the schedule in January, once he and eire head coach Joe national leader were the leading contenders for the task.
"We've got some gifted players with some expertise likewise," aforementioned Gatland, World Health Organization has been a part of the past 2 Lions tours.
"The players ar alright conscious of however vital consecutive few months ar. they're going to be wanting to get on it plane and endure a tour that may be a large challenge, however may well be one thing terribly, terribly special."
Gatland confirmed he supposed to call his work support workers and management team on seven December.
"I haven't very had abundant time to have faith in that at the instant," he said. "There may be a restricted quantity of preparation time, thus some continuity is vital.
"It is additionally vital you get some recent faces and a few recent ideas likewise."
He added: "I am unbelievably excited. i would not be here if I did not suppose we have a tendency to had the flexibility to travel to New island and win.
"I suppose players ar alright conscious of the importance of the fall Tests, Five Nations and club kind likewise. i feel plenty of them ar wanting to be selected and get on that plane for a tour that's forever a huge challenge."
Gatland was associate assistant coach in 2009, after they were overwhelmed 2-1 in African country, before changing into head coach four years past.
England coach Eddie Jones was additionally touted as a rival for the Lions job, however he dominated himself out earlier this year.
Former Wales fly-half eating apple Davies says he has "a sneaky feeling" the Lions might run Steve Hansen's world champions shut next year.
What currently for Wales?
The Wales rugby football Union aforementioned it thought of a variety of choices "domestically and overseas" once deciding what to try to to in Gatland's asbsence.
It eventually determined that Howley was the most effective option to coach the national facet whereas the Kiwi was away with the Lions.
"Rob's expertise and relationship with the regional coaches affords the chance for a joined up approach, which is able to be of a vital profit for the sport in Wales," aforementioned WRU cluster chief govt Martyn Phillips.
"Rob may be a terribly practised international coach and forms a part of one in all the foremost practised work groups within the international game.
"Added to the present, we've got a awfully practised squad of players, with a powerful leadership cluster and that we believe that combination provides America a powerful basis on that to perform for the season ahead."
2017 British and Irish Lions tour fixtures:
3 June - Provincial union team (Toll Stadium, Whangarei)
7 June - Blues (Eden Park, Auckland)
10 June - Crusaders (AMI Stadium, Christchurch)
13 June - Highlanders (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
17 June - Maori (International Stadium, Rotorua)
20 June - Chiefs (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton)
24 June - New Zealand (First Test, Eden Park, Auckland)
27 June - Hurricanes (Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
1 July - New Zealand (Second Test, Westpac Stadium, Wellington)
8 July - New Zealand (Third Test, Eden Park, Auckland).