Backs coach Rob Howley will go full-time with Wales from May

The Cardiff Blues backs coach will fulfil a similar role with Wales, initially on a part-time basis but switching to a full-time role in May.

Ex-Wales scrum-half Howley says there is no better man to learn from than Gatland, his former coach at Wasps.

"I know that the next four years are going to be challenging for me as a coach," Howley told BBC Sport Wales.

"I'm going to learn a hell of a lot and I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

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"My experience as a player under Warren Gatland was one that I enjoyed, was successful and was challenging."

Former New Zealand hooker Gatland has coached Connacht, Wasps, Waikato and Ireland.

His time at Wasps brought a Heineken Cup and three Guinness Premiership titles, helped in the coaching by Shaun Edwards - the current Wasps head coach who has been appointed Wales defence coach on a part-time basis.

Howley played under them and scored the try that sealed an epic Heineken Cup final win over Toulouse in 2004.

The three men have a friendship and a professional respect dating back to that time together at Wasps.

But Howley, 37, denies any suggestion of nepotism and says they are the best backroom team for the job of taking Wales forward.

"Warren Gatland is a professional person and it wasn't a case of 'I'll phone my mate Rob up to see if he wants a coaching job', he would have done a fair amount of homework," Howley said.

"It's great to have Shaun Edwards on board as well, with (forwards coach) Rob McBryde and (kicking coach) Neil Jenkins, all looking forward to working as a management team with the players.

"I'm privileged to work with Warren Gatland, someone who first coached Connacht at the age of 34 and at the age of 40 coached London Wasps.

"He was a young coach and he hasn't done too bad has he? Hopefully I'll be able to follow in his footsteps."