Dylan Hartley among front runners for Lions captaincy - Warren Gatland

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has come in support of England captain Dylan Hartley to lead the British and Irish Lions team for the tour of New Zealand next year.

Gatland, who was appointed as the head coach of the Lions team on Wednesday believes the Northampton hooker has become a much matured person after taking the reins of the red rose team.

Wales captain Sam Warburton is another contender and has been bookmakers' favourite ever since Gatland was announced as the head coach but Hartley's recent record with England under Eddie Jones has been phenomenal after he lead the team to a Grand Slam victory during the 2016 Six Nations and also completed a 3-0 series whitewash against Australia.

In the 2013 tour of Australia, Gatland had selected Hartley in the Lions team, but his suspension for verbally abusing referee in the Premiership final ruled him out of the tour.

"Dylan has always played on the edge and that has been one of the traits that has made him such a competitor as a player," Gatland said.

"He's obviously matured and he's done a great job with England. Eddie rates him incredibly highly. He has a lot of respect from the players as well.

"The pleasing thing is his discipline. He hasn't been suspended for a while. That's a big tick against his name. Hopefully he continues in that vein and continues to be successful.

"It's easier to select players who are coming in from a winning environment with a lot of confidence. It's the same when you are picking captains.

"There are players you're familiar with, that you have been leading already, that has certain advantage. Have you been on previous tours? There are lots of considerations.

"Apart from obvious names, there will be quite a few others (that) come into consideration by the end of the season."

The Lions team will face a gruelling fixture in New Zealand with as many as 10 games to be played which includes three Tests against All Blacks and clashes against Provincial Union XV, Maori All Blacks and other Super Rugby sides.

The first game against Provincial Union Team at Whangarei kicks-off just a week after the domestic finals, which will give the Gatland even less time to prepare his players. Despite, the odds are stacked against him, Gatland is confident that the Lions can topple the All Blacks in the upcoming tour.

"Coaching the Lions isn't the safest environment to be in as a coach because if you lost the series things didn't look pretty afterwards," Gatland said.

"I knew how tough it was going to be and you've got to be successful because if you're not then a lot of people turn on you. That's the nature of the beast.

"I experienced part of that in 2013, but it makes you tougher, it makes you strong. I'm one of those people who doesn't dwell on the negatives, I always look at the positives.

"I know they're there, but they're what bring you down. If you talked to coaches in Wales, they would describe me as the eternal optimist. That's the way you've got to be.

"I've spoken about the lack of preparation time, how tough this tour is going to be - but I can't change that.

"If I start talking about that, if I start letting that affect me, then that's a negative and I have got to move on."