Caretaker Rob Howley gets another endorsement on his caretaker role – Rugby News Update
Rob Howley, who was recently given the caretaker role of the Welsh rugby team for the tour of Australia, starting in June, has been given another endorsement of his credentials by the centre playing Jamie Roberts.
Roberts plays for the Cardiff Blues, and after making his Welsh debut in 2008 against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium, has become an integral part of the Welsh set up. However, he will not be touring Australia with the team and will miss the three match
test series, due to his recovery from the knee ligament surgery he underwent.
Robert believes that Howley is a great coach and his experience at the international level is going to help the team. He said, "He's a very good coach, a very clever coach and has done wonders with the Welsh backs over the last couple of years. Certainly
I've found my game has improved massively under Rob and I'm sure all the backs would agree."
Rob Howley takes over from Gatland, the current incumbent of the Welsh team, as the latter is recovering from two broken ankles, which he suffered in a freak incident while holidaying in his native country, New Zealand.
Roberts also feels that it is a good opportunity for Howley to prove his worth as a coach.
"Rob commands respect off all the players," Roberts told BBC Sport. "It's an opportunity for Rob and the guys with Wales to really make their mark and show they can take charge of a team."
The Welsh Rugby Union sees this as the perfect opportunity to try a new coach and put a succession plan in place for the future and to groom a new coach under the watchful eye of the veteran Gatland. Howley is also expected to take charge of the British
and Irish Lions next year in the summer along with Gatland.
Rob Howley had a stellar career as a player as well. He represented Wales 59 times in test and he ended with 61 test caps, playing two of those matches for the British and Irish Lions. In 2008 he was appointed as the assistant coach of Wales and so far he
has done tremendously well.
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