Rob Howley confirms he received offer from Premiership club

Sunday, 31 May 2020 at 11:48

bySteven Smith

Former Wasps scrum-half Rob Howley was approached by his former club with a view to joining the coaching set-up, it has been revealed.

The Daily Mail this weekend published an exclusive interview with the 1997 and 2001 British and Irish Lions tourist which revealed the heartbreak and reasons behind the gambling errors that cost him his Wales job.

Nik Simon

@Nik_Simon88

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I had a lump in my throat doing this interview. It’s raw, uncomfortable and I have total admiration of Rob Howley for doing it. On the emotional turmoil behind his betting: ‘I’d driven my sister to her grave’. He’s finally at peace & will be better for it mol.im/a/8372843

9:06 PM · May 30, 2020

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Howley also revealed that Wasps had offered him a route back in to the game.

He said: "Wasps reached out to me just before Christmas about working with Dai Young. I was conscious about how people would perceive what I'd done. What would they think?

"That phone call from [Wasps owner] Derek Richardson gave me a huge boost, reassuring me that I have a future in the game. I'm the same coach now as the coach that was part of a Grand Slam winning team."

The Welshman has since been linked with the head coach role at Gloucester, which wasn't discussed.

JOIN THE RUCK

British & Irish Lions predicted 2021 starting XV according to the bookies

Although it's about a year until Warren Gatland picks his Lions squad, the public has already started talking about who will make it onto the plane and who will line-up in the first Test against South Africa.

Gatland has spoken publicly about his team but has given little away as he continues to ponder over big selection decisions.

That doesn’t stop the bookies offering odds on who will make the squad.

Here is how the XV would shape up based on the favourites to be selected from each position.

You can view the full odds from Paddy Power HERE.

Odds are accurate on Wednesday, 22nd April 2020, 8am, and are subject to change.

Fullback: LIAM WILLIAMS (Wales 4/7)

Other contenders: Stuart Hogg (Scotland 4/6), Jordan Larmour (Ireland EVS), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales 5/1), George Furbank (England 7/2)

Left wing: JONNY MAY (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland 1/3), Adam Radwan (England 40/1), Jack Nowell (England 11/4), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales 13/8)

Outside-centre: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales 1/3)

Other contenders: Henry Slade (England 5/6), Garry Ringshow (Ireland 4/6), Jonathan Joseph (England 13/8), Chris Harris (Scotland 20/1), Huw Jones (Scotland 6/1)

Inside-centre: MANU TUILAGI (England 1/3)

Other contenders: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland 5/6), Hadleigh Parkes (Wales 5/4), Sam Johnson (Scotland 9/2)

Right wing: JOSH ADAMS (Wales 1/18)

Other contenders: Anthony Watson (England 4/6), George North (Wales 2/1), Elliot Daly (England 10/11), Joe Cokanasiga (England 3/1), Keith Earls (Ireland 9/2)

Fly-half: OWEN FARRELL (England 1/25)

Other contenders: Johnny Sexton (Ireland 1/2), Dan Biggar (Wales 8/15), Finn Russell (Scotland 3/1), Marcus Smith (England 8/1)

Scrum-half: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland 4/6)

Other contenders: Tomos Williams (Wales 5/4), Ben Youngs (England 6/4), Ali Price (Scotland 2/1)

Looshead-prop: MAKO VUNIPOLA (England 4/6)

Other contenders: Ellis Genge (England 1/3), Cian Healy (Ireland 5/6), Joe Marler (England 5/2)

Hooker: JAMIE GEORGE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: Luke Cowan-Dickie (England 4/6), Ken Owens (Wales 7/4), Stuart McInally (Scotland 7/2)

Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland 1/15)

Other contenders: Kyle Sinckler (England 1/5), Tomas Francis (Wales 11/8), Harry Williams (England 5/1)

Lock: MATO ITOJE (England 1/10)

Other contenders: James Ryan (Ireland 1/5), Jonny Gray (Scotland 8/11)

Lock: ALUN WYN JONES (Wales 1/5)

Other contenders: Iain Henderson (Ireland 4/6), Courtney Lawes (England 5/4), George Kruis (England 7/2), Jean Kleyn (Ireland 33/1), Richie Gray (Scotland 5/1)