Howley sets sights on Premiership title

Rob Howley, Wales’ most capped scrum-half, today signed a three-year contract with London Wasps - and set his sights on winning the Zurich Premiership title.

‘‘I’m looking forward to the challenge,’’ said 31-year-old Howley, who played 59 times for Wales before retiring from international rugby at the end of last season.

‘‘It is an opportunity to play in the best league in the northern hemisphere and it will provide me with a new buzz.

‘‘I’m here to win medals, to win the Premiership and to show Wasps rugby club the commitment they have shown to me,’’ he said.

Wasps, who have agreed to pay Cardiff an undisclosed fee, brought five weeks of negotiations to sign Howley, who has previously been linked with moves to Leicester and Bath, to fruition today.

He has spent his entire club career in Wales - with Bridgend and Cardiff - but will show he has the ambition to succeed with Wasps by moving to live in London with his wife and two young daughters, hopefully within the next month.

‘‘My wife is totally supportive. I wouldn’t be moving if I didn’t have the support of my family. I’m looking forward to the next three years and beyond,’’ said Howley, who is confident he can have at least that long at the top level.

Last season his knee was showing the effects of the non-stop demands of combining club and international rugby but he insists he is fully fit and he came through an exhaustive six-hour medical before completing his move.

‘‘The reason I gave up international rugby is because the one thing you lose out on is your family environment,’’ said Howley, whose second daughter was born this year just before his final appearance for Wales against Scotland in the closing match of the Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

The fact he will not be away on international duty is a bonus for Wasps but club chairman Chris Wright insisted: ‘‘It wouldn’t have made any difference.

‘‘We would have signed Rob either way. You need to have star players on the pitch and what he has done for Wales and the British Lions has no parallel.

‘‘He’s a real superstar with nothing left to prove at international level. Rob is probably the best scrum-half in the northern hemisphere.

‘‘He has extremely fast hands, a great pass and on his day is a real match-winner. We are thrilled Rob has chosen to come to London Wasps and I am confident he will help us win some honours during his time here.

‘‘We struggled for a while last season and we don’t want to struggle again.’’

Director of rugby Warren Gatland, whose arrival in mid-season brought about the Wasps’ revival, is hoping Howley will provide the experience his side needs to continue that improvement, especially when skipper Lawrence Dallaglio is away with England.

‘‘We have some good young players and believe Rob’s experience and leadership will be a boost to the team.’’

Howley captained Wales 22 times and Gatland said: ‘‘He has all the experience and will provide us with leadership qualities whether it is captaining the side or just making decisions from scrum-half.’’

Wasps also hope the acquisition of a star name will help attract near 10,000-capacity crowds to their new home at Wycombe Wanderers’ Adams Park football ground following their move from Loftus Road, where Queens Park Rangers will be sharing with Fulham for the next two years.