Rob Howley has sent out a ‘gis a job’ message to the top clubs in England and France after confirming he will leave his Welsh post after the 2019 World Cup.
The 47-year-old Howley will have completed an 11 year stint as one of Warren Gatland’s right hand men for both Wales and the British & Irish Lions after the Japan tournament and then wants to try his hand at club level.
“It is on a bucket list of mine that I want to coach in the Premiership or France. Whether that opportunity comes along, who knows, but I’d like to be a head coach somewhere,” said Howley.
“I love the game of rugby, I am very passionate and I think I can add a little bit of value. I’d like to be a head coach somewhere and that’s what I want to do.
“If that’s over the Severn Bridge, or if that’s in France, who knows. When I finished playing at Cardiff I went to Wasps and it was one of the best decisions I made.
“I’ve made tough decisions before, but the family will come first, as they always have. I’d like to be head coach or director of rugby at a club.
“I really enjoyed the experience of being interim head coach and I think to go back and have that experience of being head coach day in day out over a period of time, maybe longer than a year, would put me in a better place.”
Whoever fancies hiring Howley will get a top class act. To three Lions tours, two Grand Slams, a third Six Nations title and a World Cup semi-final as a coach, you can add 59 caps, two Lions tours, a Heineken Cup and English Premiership title as a player.
The countdown to his departure begins next month in the Autumn test series when Wales meet Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa.
“First and foremost it is about the Autumn Series and exposing this group of talented players to the best teams in world rugby,” added Howley.
“That has been Warren Gatland’s motto even since he has been here. We have always done that, we always will and it is something to look forward to over the next six weeks.”
