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Welsh Rugby
McBryde to coach Wales in Japan
ESPN Staff
December 12, 2012
Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde, Wales press conference, Rugby World World Cup, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, October 7, 2011
Robin McBryde will be in charge of Wales when they travel to Japan © Getty Images
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The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed that Robin McBryde will take on the role of interim head coach for Wales' two-Test tour of Japan in 2013.

Current Wales boss Warren Gatland confirmed on Wednesday that he will be joined on the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia by interim Wales coach Rob Howley along with England's Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell. Howley's inclusion meant that the WRU had to look for its second interim coach in a year and it has opted for McBryde.

The former 37-cap hooker led Wales on their 2009 tour of Canada and the USA and he will be assisted by Shaun Edwards, Neil Jenkins and newcomer Mark Jones for the tour of Japan.

"I am delighted and extremely proud to have again been handed the honour of leading Wales on an important tour," McBryde said. "It is a privilege to coach my country and I will embark on this tour determined to get the best out of the squad against what I know will prove to be tough opposition.

"It is inevitable that some of our leading players will be on Lions duty but the last tour I took charge of proved that it is possible to identify and blood some stars of the future in these games. I already have a great coaching relationship with Neil and Shaun but I am really looking forward to working closely with Mark Jones who fully deserves this opportunity to step onto the international stage."

WRU CEO Roger Lewis added: "The coaching team we have announced for the Japan tour is evidence of how the development pathway in Wales is working effectively for Welsh rugby. The group we have established represents an ideal mix of huge talent from the current Warren Gatland set up combined with some of our best young prospects for the future in a range of disciplines.

"To have young and emerging coaches and backroom staff learning from the likes of Shaun, Neil and Robin is a great opportunity for everyone selected to travel to Japan. Robin has already proved he can lead Wales successfully on tour and this time the presence of Shaun will be an added bonus which is bound to help our preparations.

"Neil is expanding his coaching remit all the time and I know Mark Jones is a coach of quality who will take an important step forward in his own career development. With new faces in the rest of the backroom team from within our structure this is an important step forward in our commitment to player and coach development. I know our head of rugby, Joe Lydon, has been working hard on the international coaching structures and we will have more exciting developments to announce soon."

Wales will kick off their tour of Japan in Osaka on June 8 and will then journey to Tokyo on June 15.

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