Howley was Wales attack coach between 2008 and 2019. In that time he won three Six Nations Grand Slams and was head coach for the 2013 title win.
The now 50-year-old former scrum-half also helped Warren Gatland’s side to the semi-finals of the 2011 Rugby World and was a key part of the team which played at the 2019 tournament.
Howley left the Welsh camp in Japan just before the start of that year’s World Cup after he was found guilty of betting breaches and banned from rugby for 18 months.
Now he is back in Test rugby as an assistant coach of Canada who will face Wayne Pivac’s Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on July 3.
“There is no doubt it’s going to be strange. I’ve got many great friends in Welsh rugby,” Howley said.
“But it’s not going to be about me on that weekend.
“It’s about the Canadian players pitting themselves against arguably the best team in the northern hemisphere because of the Championship Wales have just won.
“I know them inside and out which will hopefully give us a bit of help. The challenge is trying to compete with their physicality, skill and speed.
“I’ve been a part of that team in the past. Now, I can smile again.”
Howley celebrates Wales’ 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam win over Ireland
There is no doubt it’s going to be strange. I’ve got many great friends in Welsh rugby, but it’s not going to be about me on that weekend
Howley continued: “I love being a part of rugby – I’ve a huge passion for it. I started coaching Canada via Zoom and meeting some of the players on there. There was a little bit of nervousness from me.
“We’re on Zoom every week at the moment in preparation for the summer games against Wales and England. I’m a proud and passionate Welshman who just wants Wales to win.
“I don’t know any different and that’s a challenge for me because I’m the other side of the fence now with Canada for the first time in 12 years. It will be a different experience for me and from a work perspective, I’ll want Wales to lose. It’s mixed emotions, of course.
“Along with others, I’ll have helped to develop the players I’m coaching against. I’ll try to outfox them in some ways. Wales have a lot of world-class players and they’re in a really good place.
“I suppose over the last four months we have seen the true Wales. I built a lot of friendships through my time with Wales and I felt sorry for the players against France in the Six Nations. It was just desperate.
“Wayne Pivac has to take a lot of credit. It was a shame they couldn’t get the Grand Slam.”
Howley (right) had so much success as Wales assistant coach to Warren Gatland
Canada’s head coach is another Welshman in Kingsley Jones who is assisted by Howley and former ASM Clermont Auvergne hard man Jamie Cudmore.
For the last six months or so Howley has been back and forth from his family home near Bridgend to North America to work with Canada and club side Toronto Arrows.
The Arrows are the only Canadian side in Major League Rugby.
I’m the other side of the fence now with Canada for the first time in 12 years. It will be a different experience for me and from a work perspective, I’ll want Wales to lose. It’s mixed emotions, of course.
“I thought in terms of adding value and bringing in some expertise, if I could spend some time with the main Canadian side the Toronto Arrows who provide the majority of the Canadian players, then that would certainly aid acceleration of learning,” said Howley.
“I’m meeting the players in Wales when they arrive at the end of June. Thankfully, I don’t have to go back to Canada as it would mean quarantining again.
“I worked with Toronto for the first three games in the MLR.
“I overlooked the first three games against Atlanta, then Utah in Salt Lake City, then Washington and I flew back home from there. I’ve been doing the rounds a bit which has been different.
“Kingsley has looked upon the next couple of years as a chance to look at the succession plan in a similar way to Italy at this moment in time. They want to give youngsters an opportunity.”
Howley barks out orders in his time coaching in Canada alongside their head coach Kingsley Jones. Credit: Brock Smith
Kingsley has looked upon the next couple of years as a chance to look at the succession plan in a similar way to Italy at this moment in time. They want to give youngsters an opportunity
“It was good for me to meet and work with the players for a three-week camp in February time. We worked on the culture and some understanding about what makes a good environment.
“From the experiences I’ve had with working with coaching teams under Warren Gatland, thankfully I am able to help on that.”
So what sort of challenge will Canada provide to Wales who were crowned Six Nations title winners in 2021 and only just missed out on a Grand Slam following a late defeat by France?
Wales head coach Pivac will be without 10 of his first-choice players this summer who will be on the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, but will still have a strong squad at his disposal.
Howley said: “It’s been a long time since the Canada players have put on the jersey. The last time was at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
“When you’re picking a squad it’s about a balance of experience and giving young players the chance to be the best they can be. Over the next couple of weeks of the MLR, the challenge is coming over from Canada and getting as much time as possible before the first Test match.
“The Canadian players are far more used to travelling. I was moaning about travelling one or two hours, but the players are used to travelling four or five hours on a Friday before a game.
“They get on with it and they’re used to that. They’re passionate about the game and have energy and enthusiasm.
“We’ll have to adjust our training depending on when those players arrive and be the best we can be.”
Howley urges on Wales players in training in his time as attack coach
It’s been a long time since the Canada players have put on the jersey. The last time was at the 2019 Rugby World Cup
