Henry praise for departing Howley; Tributes to retiring international star.
Byline: ANDREW BALDOCKGRAHAM HENRY has led the tributes to Wales and Lions scrum-half Rob Howley, who will retire from international rugby following tomorrow's Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash against Scotland in Cardiff.
Howley, 31, has decided to call it a day, but his departure from the international stage will leave Wales with a huge void to fill.
With 58 Test appearances under his belt, he is Wales' most-capped scrum-half, while he also toured twice with the Lions, making the Test line-up in Australia last summer under the coaching direction of former Wales boss Henry.
Howley also captained Wales on 22 occasions, and was at the helm during a 10-match unbeaten run which proved the highlight of Henry's reign. Howley was also Welsh player of the year in 1996 and 1997.
"Rob has been a great player for Wales, and a tremendous British Lion, " Henry said.
"He is an outstanding player, and probably one of the best halfbacks in world rugby.
"He was captain of Wales during a memorable time for me, and he should be proud of everything he has achieved in the game."
Fly-half Neil Jenkins played alongside Howley for the majority of his international career, and also rates the scrum half as a top-notch performer.
"Rob has achieved everything in the game during a great career for Wales, the Lions, Cardiff and Bridgend, " Jenkins said.
"When he looks back, he will be able to see that he was up there with the best scrum-halves in the world. It was fantastic to play outside him for so many games, both for club and country.
"When great players retire, new young talent always develops and comes through, but it will be doubly difficult to fill the gap left by Rob."
Scotland coach Ian McGeechan, who was in charge of the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa when injury cruelly denied Howley a Test place, also saluted his contribution to the game "I am sure that Rob has still got a lot of good rugby in him, but he has made his decision, " McGeechan said.
"Rob has been a tremendous ambassador for Welsh rugby. I was very disappointed for him on the Lions tour of 1997, but I was delighted to see him gain a Test place in Australia last summer.
"Not only is he a very nice person, he has been a truly outstanding British rugby player."
Wales team manager Alan Phillips paid tribute to Howley's contribution to the national game over the past decade, describing him as "more than a world rated scrum-half".
Comparing him favourably to some of Wales' greatest players over the past 10 years, Phillips said: "There is no doubt that Rob was an integral part of a prized group of players who formed the backbone of the national team over the past decade.
"Ieuan Evans, Robert Jones, Neil Jenkins and the two Scotts, Gibbs and Quinnell, and Rob were the ones who sustained Welsh rugby's world profile during that period.
"To be bracketed with them is just as much an honour for Rob as it is for them to be talked of in the same breath as him.
Having toured with the Lions, represented and captained his country with distinction, he has achieved everything within the game.
"More than just a world-rated scrumhalf, he remains a superb athlete and natural footballer.
"The fact that he is leaving the international scene is obviously a major blow and he will be missed by his fellow Welsh players.
"But we respect his decision; thank him for his immense contribution and wish both himself and his family the very best for the future."
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WALES SWANSONG: Legendary scrum-half Rob Howley in action
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Daily Post (Liverpool, England) |
| Date: | Apr 5, 2002 |
| Words: | 616 |
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