It has been a protracted street again to Welsh rugby’s house for Robert Howley. However the former Wales coach and captain discovered himself again within the acquainted environment of the Principality Stadium on his return to Warren Gatland’s backroom set-up as a ‘technical coach’ for the 2024 Six Nations.
It was a punishment handed out nearly 4 years to the day. Now Howley finds himself sitting within the press room on the Principality Stadium, a floor which he graced as a participant and coach for nearly 20 years. Was it a day and an event he thought would occur once more?
“No. I am simply completely delighted to be again,” stated Howley.
“This can be a particular place. I am a Welshman, a proud and a passionate one. I did not assume today would come.”
Howley, 53, celebrated his return together with his household after the turmoil of the final 4 years.
“You possibly can think about over the past 24 hours there was a little bit of celebration within the Howley family,” he stated.
“They’ve supported me immensely over the past 4 years. The women, Megan and Rebecca, are 24 and 22 now.
“Once you return 4 years in the past they had been within the closing yr of their research; Megan with psychology at Exeter and Rebecca was doing her GCSEs.
“The very fact is we have got by way of that as a household and are available by way of.”
Welcome return
Howley was given a coaching lifeline by Canada in 2020 after he served his nine-month ban, however returning to Wales was at all times the ambition.
When Gatland took cost of Wales for a second time in December 2022, the Kiwi was initially blocked by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) from bringing again his former quantity two.
Then, earlier this yr, Howley had a gathering with interim chief government Nigel Walker and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood.
“The final yr has been a troublesome one,” stated Howley.
“The best way the chairman and Nigel Walker have been over the past six months has been completely excellent.
“I can solely thank Nigel for all his efforts and thank the board. They’ve listened. The assumption they’ve given me and the honesty I’ve given has been nice. In equity to Nigel and the chairman, they’ve given me a second likelihood.
“The expertise I’ve had with Canada and the resilience I’ve gone by way of over a time frame means I really feel I am a greater particular person, a greater coach.”
So why now? Walker, who will turn out to be the WRU’s first executive director of rugby in January 2024, defined why this was the best time to convey Howley again into the fold.
“It has been debated at board stage a variety of occasions over the past 15 to 18 months,” stated Walker.
“Richard and I met with Rob six or 9 months in the past. He spelled out in clear phrases why what occurred occurred. He sought skilled assist. He’s rehabilitated so far as we’re involved.
“There’s a dedication from Rob to make use of his experiences inside Welsh rugby to make sure no-one makes the error he is made. In a nutshell, that is why we have come to the choice that now’s the best time.”
After his 2019 transgressions, Howley sought skilled assist to deal with his playing issues.
He admitted up to now he has battled demons that had been triggered by the tragic dying of his sister Karen.
“One among my discussions with Nigel and the chair was about sharing these companies and wider companies, and the resilience I had in 2019,” stated Howley.
“Studying it is okay to talk out and say I am not feeling okay right this moment… I have to have a dialog. And to see the psychologist for the time frame I did, it recognized I wanted assist and I sought assist. It took me 18 months to get by way of that darkish time frame.
“By that, you get resilience. Hopefully that resilience and expertise I had, I am there to supply any assist I can with gamers who really feel they should speak and attain out.”
England captain Owen Farrell has recently decided to step away from international rugby with Howley believing the game has turn out to be extra accepting of such a selection.
“For Owen to make that call, it has been described as a watershed second,” stated Howley.
“Typically, we do not perceive the pressures on the fashionable worldwide and people pressures filters right down to age-grade.
“It is essential, as a coach and as a father, we assist these gamers who may really feel they want that assist.”
Gatland’s belief
Gatland’s assist has additionally been important for Howley.
“He is most likely one of the best coach I’ve ever labored with,” stated Howley.
“He is obtained that capacity, and we noticed that within the World Cup, that no-one exterior of possibly the group thought Wales would get out of that pool.
“I’ve saved involved with Warren however the one factor about him is he is very skilled.
“Behind coaches and gamers, there’s mentoring and that form of relationship. It is about constructing relationships and belief is essential in any sporting surroundings.
“The one factor myself and Warren have, I imagine, is belief. What occurred in 2019 and the belief he has proven since then is unbelievable.”
Twin position
Howley was interviewed for the Wales Underneath-20s job vacated by Mark Jones. That position was given to Richard Whiffin, however Howley’s new remit will see him work with the under-20s and under-18s.
“This was a shock to me, after I went by way of the method I by no means knew this was going to be the result from it,” stated Howley.
“To undergo the method for the under-20 roll wasn’t straightforward once you’re on an interview with Warren who I labored with for 11 years.
“It was a course of I loved and I am trying ahead to being again in Wales and dealing with a group I really like a lot.
“The thrilling half for me is to work with Richard. I really feel the expertise I’ve had over the past 11 years with Wales after which Canada will hopefully permit us to create an surroundings which quick tracks gamers into the nationwide group.”
Alex King is Wales’ assault coach, which is Howley’s outdated job.
So what’s going to his new position with the senior nationwide aspect contain?
“My remit is the unstructured a part of the sport when it comes to kick receptions, turnovers, contact space, working with the backs like I did again after I was within the position, working with the front-five on catch go abilities and inside a training group,” stated Howley.
“One factor Warren is sweet at is when you find yourself in a training group, all of us assist one another. I am right here to assist Alex as nicely.”
The brand new-look Welsh teaching workers shall be first examined in opposition to Scotland within the Six Nations opener on 3 February, when Howley will sit within the Wales field for the primary time in nearly 5 years.
What’s going to he be feeling as he savours the Principality Stadium environment as soon as extra?
“Simply immense pleasure and stay up for beating Scotland,” stated Howley.
“There could also be a tear there, particularly through the anthem. To be there on a Six Nations day once more shall be particular.”