Warren Gatland expresses frustration over Wales blocking ex-assistant Rob Howley's return

Warren Gatland has returned for his second stint in charge of Wales but was left frustrated after he was blocked from re-appointing former attack coach Rob Howley

Warren Gatland was bemused that he was unable to re-hire Rob Howley as Wales attack coach and is adamant he should be forgiven for breaching betting rules.

Gatland, returning for his second stint in charge of Wales, had earmarked Howley as a key member of his coaching ticket for the 2023 Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.

But the New Zealander was blocked from reappointing Howley by senior Welsh Rugby Union figures, despite the former scrum-half proving an integral part of Gatland's backroom staff in his first 12 years in the Wales hot seat.

Howley was dramatically sent home from Japan on the eve of the 2019 World Cup and struck with an 18-month ban from rugby for the betting breaches that cost him his job.

The former attack coach was forced to step down after it was discovered that he placed 363 bets on the outcome of rugby matches, and he has since rebuilt his coaching career with Canada.

Howley, who had nine months of his ban suspended, has since revealed his emotional turmoil at a personal tragedy that prompted the gambling scandal that saw his Wales coaching career end in disgrace.

Gatland still shares a close relationship with Howley and believes it is time to forgive and forget, over three years on from the investigation into his betting activities.

"I have got a huge amount of respect for Rob as a rugby coach," Gatland said. "I suppose the information given to me was that the timing wasn't right.

"You would like to think that if anyone was going to be forgiving it would be the Welsh forgiving their own. It has been over three years now, but that is not the case at the moment.

"Hopefully, Rob will continue to be involved in rugby. He has been involved with Canada and he has had the backing of World Rugby, who have been funding that position. I just think I would like to see him involved at the highest possible level again in the future."

Howley was the clear front-runner to join Gatland's new coaching team, and the 59-year-old has instead appointed former England international Alex King as his new attack coach.

King joins Mike Forshaw in Gatland's backroom staff, after the rugby league great left Sale Sharks as a reputable defence coach. Meanwhile, Jonathan Thomas has been brought in to oversee the contact area.

Former Wasps outside half King held his new role briefly during the 2017 Six Nations and Gatland stressed he is excited to work with him once again, despite his disappointment over the Howley snub.

"I’ve got to say I’m extremely lucky with Alex coming on board," Gatland added. "I’ve worked with him before and I think hopefully he’ll fit in seamlessly to the backs role as a coach. "I think he’ll add a lot."