'They said I'd end up on the dole'

Mar 18 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

ROB Howley today revealed how he was warned he would be “on the dole within nine months” when he joined Warren Gatland’s Wales revolution.

With the nation still celebrating the Grand Slam triumph, Howley, the third member of the national coaching triumvirate alongside Gatland and Shaun Edwards, lifted the lid on his amazing journey from backroom boy at Cardiff Blues to the summit of the northern hemisphere game.

In an exclusive interview he spoke of how:

He is not jealous that Gatland and Edwards have hogged the limelight.

The players have been the real heroes of the Grand Slam triumph

Shaun Edwards’ work with the defence has been the key

He saw joining Gatland as a “gamble” when the call came from the Kiwi.

“Somebody even asked me whether I was prepared to be on the dole in nine months time because coaching Wales was a thankless job,” Howley revealed.

“It has turned out to be a wonderful journey and hats off to everyone involved.

“But if you want to concentrate on the real stars here, it has to be the players.

“The amount of information they have taken on board in the past couple of months has been phenomenal.”