All Howley focus on signing off with success

ROB Howley insists he won’t let talk of his future distract Wales’ Grand Slam bid.

Former scrum-half Howley has worked alongside Wales head coach Warren Gatland since 2008, but both men will leave the international set-up after the World Cup in Japan.

Wales face England on Saturday as the only two unbeaten teams left in the Six Nations with Howley fully focused on the titanic Cardiff clash.

“I want to enjoy this year. When you do have discussions, all of a sudden they become headlines and then they become distractions to the players and other coaches,” Howley said.

“I am purely focussed on the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup. I would like to have some time off postWorld Cup and then in 2020, I want to be employed.”

Howley has been involved in the Wales coaching set-up for more than a decade. He aims to end on a high, but The Rugby Paper understands a future coaching role in England or France would appeal.

Victory over Eddie Jones’ Red Rose would make it 12 straight wins for Wales. Such a winning run would make them statistically the best team in Welsh rugby history. “When I’m grey and old – I’m grey now – hopefully I will look back on the last decade with fond memories,” Howley added.

“The bedrock of the relationship we have as coaches is trust, integrity, and respect. We all know our roles from a technical and tactical respect and Gats drives that.

“The loyalty he’s shown to all of us has brought the best out of us as well. He backs his fellow coaches and he backs his players. He is a very honest person which is his endearing quality. I have been fortunate to have him as a coach and I learnt so much from him as a player at Wasps.

“We have achieved some fantastic success as a group and it would great for us to go out this year with a superb performance in the Six Nations and success at the World Cup.”