Rob Howley, Wales' most capped scrum-half, has rejected a plea from new coach Steve Hansen to have second thoughts about his decision to retire from international rugby.

"No regrets" - apart from the disappointment of going out on a losing note - was the irrevocable verdict from Howley, who left the international stage to an emotional reception from both sides of the Millennium Stadium crowd as the curtain came down on his 59-cap career in the 66th minute of Saturday's 27-22 Lloyds TSB Six Nations defeat by Scotland.

"It's the right decision," insisted 32-year-old Howley.

"Steve asked me to reconsider after taking a break over the summer but I've made up my mind."

Howley, who has given his all enjoying the highs and enduring the lows on the perpetual roller-coaster that is Welsh rugby is adamant that the timing is right both for himself and Wales.

The permanent handicap of playing with a knee problem, the fact that for the third international in succession he was withdrawn around the hour mark to make way for his heir apparent Dwayne Peel and, not least, the birth of his second daughter last Thursday have all been factors.

"Making this decision will probably prolong my club career," said the Cardiff star.

"And it's given the Welsh team 18 months before the World Cup.

"There's a tour to South Africa in the summer and then to New Zealand before the World Cup and I don't think I would be able to commit myself fully to all the demands of international rugby."

Howley looked as though he had plenty left in the tank as he probed and created the openings his team-mates failed to take advantage of in the opening stages, admitted: "I thought I might have stayed on a bit longer.

"But Dwayne Peel is the future and the coaching staff naturally want to look at him. You can't hold players back."

Howley also said that by making his decision now it will be beneficial for the 20-year-old Llanelli prospect - or anyone else Hansen chooses to wear his number nine jersey - to go to South Africa knowing he is the first choice rather than be looking over his shoulder.

"I didn't need to go through the summer thinking should I or shouldn't I," said Howley.

"My knee gives me problems after every game and what is difficult is combining international and club rugby.

"I have always been a big trainer and at the moment I'm making sacrifices and alterations to my training regime and there are no shot cuts at international level.

"Scott Quinnell is going through the same thing and at the end of the day you have to put your hands up and be honest with yourself," said one of Wales' most whole-hearted players of his generation.

He acknowledges that the absence of Quinnell, who missed Saturday's match and will not go to South Africa as he bids to recover fitness, following the loss of experienced pedigree performers like David Young, Scott Gibbs and Neil Jenkins, will make the task of reviving Welsh fortunes even more difficult for Hansen and his assistant Scott Johnson, whose caretaker roles were made permanent 24 hours before the defeat by Scotland.

But he stated: "It's right giving Steve, Scott and Clive Griffiths their contracts. You have to have the best people with world-class experience of coaching and I"m sure they will go on and have a successful future.

"I have the greatest respect for the players I've played with but there is new talent coming up."

And Howley, who has already climbed the first two rungs of the coaching qualification ladder, is preparing to contribute to the future of Welsh rugby as he plays out his career at Cardiff.

"I'm looking to coach a junior club next season. I've done as much as I can as a player and I want to give something back to the grass roots," he added.