Gatland closes door on Howley’s Lions tour

ROB Howley’s chances of making a fourth tour as the British & Irish Lions attack coach alongside Warren Gatland were all but ruled out this week as the head coach talked about his coaching team for the 2021 tour of South Africa.

Gatland said that selecting Howley, who has served a nine-month ban for breaching betting rules after being sent home from the Wales camp during the 2019 World Cup, would be problematic from all sides.

Gatland said of Howley, who was in charge of the Lions attack on the 2009, 2013 and 2017 tours and is now coaching Canada: “He is a great mate and I am delighted he got the job with Canada.

“The last thing you want is people bringing up the past and taking away from your preparation for the Lions tour, so that makes it a little bit difficult.

He added: “It is great for him he is back in the game, (and that) he gets a chance to re-establish himself with Canada until the next World Cup.

“He is an outstanding coach, and he understands mistakes have been made, and hopefully he does really well.”

Gatland suggested it would also be unlikely that he would turn to club coaches, despite his admiration for what Rob Baxter, Exeter’s doublewinning director of rugby, has achieved.

The Lions head coach said: “I don’t know Rob that well, but what he has achieved in the game is outstanding.

“From my point of view you don’t discount club coaches, but it is a hell of a lot easier with international coaches.”

Gatland, who hopes to finalise his backroom team in the next month, explained: “The club coaches in terms of them being available is ok, but there are other things in terms of selection meetings on the way.

“You have just got to manage around that. We haven’t finalised the group – but I admire incredibly what he has achieved as a coach over a number of years with Exeter.”