Howley welcomes 'hands-on' Jones

Mark is an important addition to the coaching team

Wales interim coach Rob Howley expects Mark Jones to be a "great addition" to his backroom staff after the former Test wing joined up for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign.

Jones, capped 47 times by Wales as a player, has been seconded from his role as Llanelli Scarlets' attack coach to work with Wales' backs for the duration of the Six Nations.

Now he will fill the role in the Wales set-up recently carried out by Howley himself before the former scrumhalf's promotion to his current post, with Wales head coach Warren Gatland now concentrating full-time on preparing the British and Irish Lions for this year's tour of Australia.

"Mark is an important addition to the coaching team," said Howley. "He has played the game at the highest level and developed his coaching skills during his time with the Scarlets.

"He is a hands-on coach and understands how our environment works, which is important leading into the tournament."

The 33-year-old Jones had already been confirmed as part of the Wales coaching team for a two-Test tour to Japan in June, but will now also help the team in the defence of their Six Nations Grand Slam title, which starts against Ireland at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on February 2.

AFP