Wasps get a Kiwi sting

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young has appointed New Zealander Shane Howarth as backs coach ahead of the forthcoming Premiership season.

Howarth joins up with strong coaching credentials which include roles as head coach with Auckland in New Zealand's NPC, an assistant Super 14 coach with Blues and as an assistant coach of New Zealand Maori, as well as coaching the Pacific Islanders.

He also has experience coaching in the international Sevens environment with Papua New Guinea.

As a player, he represented the All Blacks, New Zealand Maori, Auckland, Sale and Newport - while under the International Rugby Board rules of the time he went on to play for Wales, making his debut against South Africa in 1998 and playing 19 times.

He ended his playing career with Newport in 2003, before returning to begin his coaching career in New Zealand.

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: "I've followed Shane's coaching career since I played with him for Wales and he comes strongly recommended from the like of Graham Henry.

"We have a similar philosophy on the game and I think we will hugely benefit from his intimate knowledge of both the northern and southern hemisphere."

Howarth will link up with the squad in July, taking over from Paul Turner, whose one-year consultancy contract came to an end recently.

Turner will continue to have strong links with London Wasps, as he continues to develop his own coaching consultancy business, coaching in clubs and schools across Europe.