Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward has warned Wales boss Warren Gatland that taking control of the British and Irish Lions could affect the Welsh's 2015 World Cup campaign.

The Lions tour Australia in 2013 and Woodward insists that Gatland should be placed in charge of the team. However, England's World Cup-winning coach believes that Gatland should be cautious about letting the role get in the way of his Wales duties.

"Whoever coaches the Lions, and I think it should be Warren, has to be really careful," said Woodward.

"Wales have an outstanding team and, I think, they could go all the way in 2015, and you don't want anything to get in the way of that.

"He has to manage that process and almost has to get the Welsh team to really want him to do the Lions.

"They have to understand that stuff is going to happen on a Lions trip that can go wrong and that means your mojo isn't intact."

The Lions tour of Australia gets underway next year on June 1.