WASPS RETURN FOR HOWLEY?
RUMOURS RIFE BOSS YOUNG COULD WELCOME BACK ‘GOOD FRIEND’ TO HELP COACH WASPS
FORMER Wales backs coach Rob Howley could be heading back to Wasps – the club where he ended his playing career.
The 49-year-old scored one of Wasps’ most famous tries after he capitalised on Clement Poitrenaud’s dithering to pounce on his kick ahead to win the 2004 Heineken Cup final.
After retiring from playing, Howley worked as a coach under Dai Young, now director of rugby at Wasps, at Cardiff before taking on a coaching role with Wales in 2008. This 11-year association came to an acrimonious end before the 2019 Rugby World Cup following allegations of gambling.
He was subsequently banned for 18 months after making 363 bets over 45 months – some on the Wales team.
Howley cannot return to rugby until June 16, with many national media outlets speculating he will then team up with Wasps. Here’s what we know and our thoughts on the speculation...
Is there a job open for Howley at Wasps?
Technically at the moment, no. Wasps have two backs/attach coaches in Lee Blackett and Martin Gleeson. The latter only arrived at the club last summer.
Blackett has been at Wasps since the 2015/16 season but has recently been subject of speculation himself. Wasps’ city rivals Coventry, who play their rugby in the Championship, has been rumoured to be his next port of call.
Coventry’s head coach Nick Walshe was reported to have parted company with the club following their defeat to Ampthill. He has not been present at their next two games against London Scottish and Hartpury College but no official statement has been made by the club. But it all adds up to a possible chain of events where Blackett moves to Coventry, and Howley heads to Wasps.
Do Dai Young and Rob Howley have previous?
Just a bit. They worked together at Cardiff before Howley teamed up with Wales. They also spent a large chunk of their playing careers together at Cardiff, Wales and two British and Irish Lions tours in 1997 and 2001. They also played together for the Barbarians. In an interview late last year, Young referred to Howley as a ‘good friend’ when discussing Howley’s exit from the Wales camp.
Wasps have been here before trying to bring in a high-profile coach for a while, haven’t they?
Yes, it all started with Danny Wilson. The former Cariff Blues coach was set to join Wasps ahead of the 2018/19 season but pulled out to instead take up a role within the Scottish Rugby set-up.
Then there was the Shaun Edwards approach. When it was announced he would not be remaining within the Wales set-up beyond the 2019 Rugby World Cup,
Wasps were fast out of the block to offer him a return to the club he coached for ten years up until 2011. Edwards rejected Wasps’ offer as he looked to remain within international rugby. He subsequently signed a deal with France.
The final big name Wasps attempted to lure in was Steve Borthwick. The then-England coach was targeted by Young but a deal could not be agreed and the former Bath and Saracens lock will team up with Leicester Tigers when his international commitments come to an end.
How likely is it we will see Howley at the Ricoh Arena next season?
Howley needs a fresh start. Returning to a club where he is revered and with a boss he knows extremely well would be a good fit. There is some ‘freshening up’ going on at Wasps, it seems. Already we have seen head of strength and conditioning Dan Baugh confirm he will be leaving at the end of the season. A shake-up of the coaching structure would not be a huge surprise. Dai Young is on a long-term contract until 2023, he isn’t going anywhere, so the changes will come (if there are to be any) from beneath him.
The addition of somebody with Howley’s status in the game would help relieve some of the pressure on Young day-to-day. At most Premiership clubs there are a couple of big names at the top. Dai Young and Rob Howley together at Wasps, you’ve got to admit, it has a certain appeal to it.
But I am sure he will be a man in demand and Wasps will have to act quickly.
But what about that ban, should Wasps be placing their faith in Howley after that?
Howley will work again in rugby when his ban is up. The guy has been on multiple Lions trips and has coached Wales on an interim basis too. Yes, the betting ban is a black mark against his name, but I am sure a lot of soul-searching has been done and by the time June rolls around, it will be at the back of people’s minds. Everyone makes mistakes. A return to a club where he is a familiar, welcome face and under a director of rugby where these is mutual respect, it could provide a perfect ‘return to rugby’ for the former scrum-half.
With Wasps having Dan Robson on their books as well as the younger options at nine – Ben Vellacott, Will Porter and Sam Wolstenhome – that’s another area where Howley’s arrival would be welcomed.
Dai Young and Rob Howley together at Wasps, you’ve got to admit, it has a certain appeal to it. But Wasps will have to act quickly.