Howley takes over as Wales boss
The Welsh Rugby Union has appointed Rob Howley as caretaker head coach of Wales for the forthcoming internationals against the Barbarians and Australia.
The appointment is to allow coach Warren Gatland to focus on recovering from injuries suffered in an accident at home in New Zealand.
Howley will have full control of all aspects of team preparation and selection as he takes charge of the existing management and coaching staff with immediate effect.
The decision was taken after medical advice given to Gatland and his family in New Zealand was set against the huge scale and importance of the series of games approaching.
Wales will play the Barbarians on June 2 in a full international before the start of one of Wales’ biggest ever tours outside of a World Cup campaign.
Wales play an unprecedented three Test matches against Australia plus a midweek fixture against the Brumbies between the first and second Test.
Doctors have ruled out a return to Wales for Gatland in time for the Barbarians international and the latest medical advice is that he is unlikely to have recuperated sufficiently to take charge of Wales in Australia before the first Test match in Brisbane on June 9.
If Gatland recovers in time to join the squad for the final two June Test matches Howley will remain as caretaker with the head coach playing a supportive role.
Gatland will not undergo immediate surgery as his injuries are given time to heal before any further decisions are taken on the need for intervention.
He was injured at home in a fall from the railings around decking at his Waihi beach house and suffered multiple fractures to the calcaneus or heel bone in his right foot and a fracture to the same bone in his left.
Howley said: “I will give one hundred per cent of my effort to ensuring we are fully prepared to meet the challenges and take the great opportunities which lie ahead in this series.
“We will be working to secure victory against the Barbarians after the defeat we suffered last year and the Tests in Australia are an opportunity for us to deliver a win in the southern hemisphere.
“Along with the rest of the coaching team I am immensely proud to have been offered this opportunity and we will give our all until Warren is ready to take full control again.”
Warren Gatland said: “Although I am devastated to be away from the action I am delighted that we have someone of Rob’s calibre to take charge in my absence.
“I have talked through all the potential scenarios with Rob Howley and Roger Lewis, but the medical advice is clear and cannot be ignored.
“I know Rob will be his own man as caretaker coach, but he and I share a similar vision about the international game so the players and coaches will know what is expected of them.”
