Gatland set to name dream team

Jan 6 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

SHAUN EDWARDS and Rob Howley are set to be unveiled as the final key appointments to the Wales back-up team, writes SIMON ROBERTS.

New national rugby coach Warren Gatland was in London for the weekend aiming to tie-up loose ends with Edwards and London Wasps.

Gatland has made no secret of his desire to work with Edwards – the pair lifted the Heineken Cup together with Wasps. But the London outfit have made it clear they will block any approach from Wales for their head coach.

However, a deal appears to have been struck to allow Edwards and Howley, the Blues assistant coach, to come on board on a part-time basis until the end of the Six Nations tournament. Gatland, who returned from spending Christmas with his family in New Zealand, confirmed he was hopeful the deals would be sealed early this week.

“We are really close and its just the final details which, hopefully, will be sorted out in the next few days,” said Gatland.

“I am hoping that early next week we will have everything finalised.

“There are a few things to sort out with Shaun – Wasps and now England aren’t too keen at the thought of him coming to Wales.

“Shaun and I would love to work together again and we just have a few things to sort out.

“We have some details to work out with Rob Howley, too.”

Gatland knows he needs to put his coaching team together quickly. He has less than a month before Wales open their Six Nations campaign against England on February 2.

Edwards and Howley will join team manager Alan Phillips, kicking coach Neil Jenkins, technical coach Robin McBryde and fitness coach Mark Bennett. But the team may be just together for the Six Nations. The contracts of the likes of Jenkins, McBryde and Bennett end after the tournament.

Craig White, the former Ireland and Wasps fitness coach who is currently with the Leicester Tigers, is another target for Wales.

Gatland is still keen to get him on board in some capacity.

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