Howells back in the big time
Howells, who led Wales on their two test tour of Japan in 2001, takes over from Todd Blackadder as the head coach at Scotland’s leading team and returns to the UK after two seasons in Italy with Leonessa.
A native of the Rhondda Valley, Lynn Howells played for Tylorstown and Penygraig, and spent a season with Pontypridd in 1971. He returned to the club as assistant coach to Dennis John in 1991, guiding Ponty to the Swalec Cup in 1995/6 and the Premiership League title the following season.
From 1998-2001 he was Head Coach at Cardiff, during which time they were Premiership League champions and reached the Heineken Cup quarter-finals. He returned to Pontypridd in 2001 as Head Coach, when they won the Principality Cup and were runners-up in the Parker Pen Shield. In 2003, he moved to Celtic Warriors as Director of Rugby. They finished third in the league that season and also competed in the Heineken Cup. Despite a successful season, rationalisation of the Welsh sides meant that Celtic Warriors were disbanded.
Lynn then moved to Leonessa in Italy as Director of Rugby where he has been working until now.
At international level, Lynn moved up the ranks, coaching the Wales U21 and A teams before becoming Assistant Coach of the senior Welsh national squad between 1998 and 2001. He was Head Coach for the Wales tour of Japan in the summer of 2001.
Speaking on his appointment, Howells said: “I am absolutely delighted to be coming to Edinburgh as Head Coach. I was extremely impressed from the beginning of the process with the directors’ plans for Edinburgh Rugby and feel they are definitely the kind of people I can work with.
“Edinburgh has a very talented squad of players and I am extremely excited about the prospect of working with them. My focus will now be on building a consistent level of performance on the field and I very much look forward to the challenge ahead of us in both the Magners League and Heineken Cup.”
Alex Carruthers, Executive Chairman of Edinburgh Rugby, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to attract Lynn Howells to Edinburgh Rugby as our new Head Coach.
“He brings with him extensive experience as a Head Coach, a proven track record of achievement in Celtic League rugby and experience of international rugby as the Assistant Coach of the Welsh national side.
“Lynn has qualities which we believe will further improve the performance of the Edinburgh squad utilising our experienced players together with the continued development of younger talent. Through this appointment we retain our commitment to attract and develop talented Scottish players.
“He will assume responsibility for the running of the team with effect from 17 September 2006 and will work with the existing interim coaching through to the end of the previously announced transition period.”
A further announcement will follow on the Assistant Coach and Academy Manager positions and we are delighted to be on target to meet our stated aim of having our new coaching team in place by the end of September.
He added: “I would like to thank Henry Edwards, his support and playing teams and all staff at Edinburgh Rugby for their hard work and professionalism in the period since we took over the club. We now look forward with added optimism to the season ahead of us. ”
