Tributes to Rob Howley

Wales' Rob Howley will end a glittering international career on Saturday at the age of 31.

Send your tributes to one of the world's finest scrum-halves.

Rob Howley has graced the international stage since making his first appearance for Wales in 1996.

Now the Bridgend-born scrum-half will win his 59th and final cap when he takes the field against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Howley has delighted rugby supporters with his performances for Wales, the Lions, the Barbarians and at club level for Cardiff and Bridgend.

One of the finest number nines that Wales has ever produced, Howley is also ranked among the world's best by rivals such as Australia's George Gregan and South Africa's Joost van der Westhuizen.

Send your tributes and favourite memories of a pass master.

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I think all non-Welsh fans will breathe a sigh of relief when their nations take on Wales and Howley is not in the number nine shirt, but all true fans of the game from whatever nation will miss watching Rob making those scything breaks. Good luck.
Ben Dawes, England

I was at the Gabba and remember that great performance for the Lions

Bob Nash, England

For Howley to be regarded as he is, having for the most part played behind a poor Welsh eight, says it all. You only have to hear the comments by his fellow Lions to see how respected he was as a player.
M Watkins, Wales

Rob should have retired after the French game in 2000, on what a note that would have been to end such a sparkling career!
Matt, Wales

Well done Rob. I was at the Gabba and remember that great performance for the Lions. I was sad at the shabby treatment you were given on your last appearance. Why on earth were you taken off?
Bob Nash, England

Over his international career Rob Howley has been simply exceptional, especially when you consider the poor standard of some of the players who have surrounded him. I am gutted that he has decided to retire, the void he leaves behind will be very, very difficult to fill.
Ian, Wales

Well done Rob. You have achieved so much. Your skill and ability will be sincerely missed! Good luck with whatever you do.
Luke, Wales

A great player and sportsman, how good would he have been with a decent pack in front of him and a good set of backs behind? I thought it deplorable and insulting to the man that he was substituted with 20 minutes remaining of his last game.
Mike Harbon, England

Your flashes of brilliance and magic restored my pride and hope for Welsh rugby!

Dor, Wales

Rob Howley was the most complete scrum-half of his generation. His distribution skills were first rate and allied with his strength and pace from the base of the scrum combined to make him truly world class.
David Sowrey, England

Thanks Rob - you've been a rock throughout Wales' leanest times - all the best for the future!
Rich, Wales

An ever-optimistic Welshman, your flashes of brilliance and magic restored my pride and hope for Welsh rugby! Thanks for the mega-times when you raised the whole team and the Welsh Nation with your patriotism, pride and "never say die" attitude. Rob, you truly are one of rugby's greats!
Dor, Wales

I agree with the fine tributes your respondents have voiced on-line. As an expatriate Welshman, who played rugby in NZ to a fairly high standard, I am saddened by the decline in standards of fitness and levels of skill that have bedevilled Wales for a considerable time now.

Rob Howley has lost the cutting edge of scalpel sharpness he possessed until fairly recently. Even on the Lions tour to Australia I felt there were signs of a significant diminution of his natural skills and talent.

He has been a very fine representative for both Wales and the British Lions and along with the greatest rugby player ever to wear a Welsh jersey, Gareth Edwards, he is undoubtedly the next best scrum-half to have played at Cardiff in internationals and on foreign fields.

One of the true greats, who looked very comfortable on the world stage

Stuart Knight, Wales

No other British scrum-half was in his league in recent years. Good luck for life after rugby Robert Howley, if another nine or ten players played with your commitment and conscientiousness Wales would be in the top three rugger nations today.
Geraint, New Zealand

You will be so missed Rob. Thanks for all the wonderful moments. Good luck.
Ceri, England

Rob Howley should be proud of his achievements for both Wales and the British Lions. One of the true greats, who looked very comfortable on the world stage. Maybe with the English pack in front of him during his career, we could have witnessed an all time legend. Well done Rob.
Stuart Knight, Wales

Rob Howley, what can I say that hasn't already been said? He is a fantastic player and team member that much is obvious. Since I've been watching the game (as I'm only 16 that isn't all that long), I remember him playing. 1999 Wales were victors over England, that was a joyous day. Rob Howley, we salute you.
Charli Jones, Wales

Simply the best. Great character and sportsman especially in difficult times.
Joe Bateson, Japan

Rob can be proud of what he has achieved as an international rugby player. Respected as one of the best scrum-halves to ever pick up a rugby ball throughout the world, and one of the diamonds in a flagging Welsh side this season. Good Luck Rob, you are going to be missed but certainly never forgotten.
Gareth Webb, Wales

A role model that Dawson and Healy should look up to

Graeme Jones, Australia

Howley is an outstanding player. I wish he had been born English.
Mick, England

As a Welsh exile, who has taken a good ribbing for continuing to believe Wales could beat the big boys, I'll be sadder than most to see Rob go.

With a three-quarter line that could be described at best as mediocre, there was always a glimmer of hope when Howley was on fire and was making his customary lightning attacks from the back of the scrum.

His reading of Gregan in the Lions first Test was awesome, and he was the difference between the two teams. Never whinged, never moaned and never went public with his thoughts, even when sacked as Welsh captain. A role model that Dawson and Healy should look up to.
Graeme Jones, Australia

We will sorely miss one of our only truly world-class players. Injury at critical times robbed Wales and the Lions of his brilliance and we may never know just how great a force he could have been.
Martin, USA

He proved on both his Lions campaigns that he is, without question, a rugby international of the highest order

Mal Buck, Wales

Just two words..."Thank you".
David Jones, UK

Fast hands, fast feet, fast brain and insprirational. On his day as good as anyone. He will be missed by Welsh rugby and the rugby world as a whole.
Les Thomason, England

Would he be retiring if the national team was a winning team and not in such a dismal state? I think not. But anyway, good luck Rob. You deserved better but always gave your all.
Karl Bankhead, Australia

The break and the pass that set up Ieuan Evans for the try against Natal just before the shoulder dislocation, exceptional skills.
Bev, England

Rob, your'e a fantastic scrum half and I thoroughly enjoyed your battles with George Gregan during the last Lions tour. It's a shame you will not be playing in the next World Cup. Best wishes to you and your family for the future, you've been a tremendous ambassador for your country.
Mal Buck, Wales

Rob is an inspirational player. He proved on both his Lions campaigns that he is, without question, a rugby international of the highest order. My enduring memory of Rob is of the disappointment on his face when he suffered the collar bone injury during the 1997 Lions tour. I shed a tear with him. Good luck tomorrow Rob. "You beaut".
Phil, Australia

Thank you Rob for being the one that never gave up

Thomas Whitfield, Cymru

Robert Howley has been a fantastic servant to Welsh rugby over the years and moreso to Cardiff. Good luck in your international retirement Rob. I think it was the right time to decide on his retirement especially with Dwayne Peel, Gareth Cooper and so on coming up in the pecking order.
Pete, Wales

Rob is a fine player and man. There are signs now that he has passed his best at international level and I welcome his decision to leave us with the memories of his past brilliance. Dawson and Bracken aren't worthy of cleaning his boots.
Geoff Rees, England

Thank you Rob for all the pleasure that you have brought to rugby fans over the years. Good luck in all your future endeavours.
Bob Stone, Canada

Thank you Rob for being the one that never gave up, and for fighting to the last. Your understanding of the game and ability to exploit space is testimony to the immense amount of training and dedication you have shown for the game. It has been a pleasure to watch, good luck in the future for you and your family.
Thomas Whitfield, Cymru

A great player throughout the last few years, but the right decision to retire now, it is time for some fresh Welsh blood. Good luck in your retirement and thanks for the outstanding service you have given Welsh rugby.
Richard, Wales

Like many of the other Welsh Lions of the last decade, we may never know just how good he really was

John Davies, England

Howley will be missed. I don't believe he's as good as he was but he's still our top no.9. He's had a great career and has scored some tremendous tries in his career. I don't believe you can even begin to compare him with Gareth Edwards however.

Edwards was the complete player and was years ahead of his time. Can you imagine how good he'd have been today with superior fitness programmes etc? Scary!
Gareth, Wales

In my mind's eye, I can still see a moment of Rob Howley brilliance against Western Province for the Lions in 1997. A dummy followed by a scything break before a perfectly floated spin pass off his left hand, for Ieuan Evans to run in the try without breaking stride.

I remember thinking at the time that there was no other player I knew of who could have executed such a complete set of skills so flawlessly. Often, over the last six years, he has had to carry the Welsh team, usually with Scott Quinnell, but at times by himself.

I suspect that this was the key factor that led to the dip in form/confidence following the 1999 World Cup and also may well have now contributed to his decision to retire from the international arena. Alas, like many of the other Welsh Lions of the last decade, we may never know just how good he really was.
John Davies, England

The greatest Welsh scrum-half since Gareth Edwards

Rhys Clyburn, Wales

Rob has arguably been one of the finest players in world rugby. Who was the best? Joost or Rob? I think if Rob had been playing in that Springbok team he may well have shone as the world's best! Good luck with whatever the future holds in store for you and your family.
Huw, Scotland

The jinking Stan Laurel lookalike will be sadly missed - particularly by the rudderless Welsh. Let's hope Rob can hit the high notes on his valedictory run-out: and not just during Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.
Ian McGrath, Scotland

The greatest Welsh scrum-half since Gareth Edwards. His ability to make quick decisions and his pace meant that the defence had to constantly watch him. Good luck mate, and keep up the good performances for Cardiff!
Rhys Clyburn, Wales

He is a brilliant player who has enriched world rugby over the past few seasons. After being capped relatively late in life, he provided rugby fans worldwide with some fantastic moments.

That try against France was just magic, and some of his performances for the Lions early on in South Africa were simply faultless. Congratulations to Rob on a superb career and its just a shame we couldn't have seen him playing behind a 'steamroller' pack!
Mark B, Wales

He is an excellent distributor of the ball

Chris, Wales

Today is a very sad day for Welsh Rugby. Rob is up there with the best in the world and that record will never be taken from him. He has been a great ambassador for Welsh & international rugby and will be sorely missed by all.
Sue, Wales

A big loss! Being a proud Welshman plying my trade for an English side, Rob's play and skill has provided me with the very few opportunities to cheer about Welsh Rugby! Good Luck for the future.
Jon Williams, Mersea Island RFC

I have always thought highly of Rob Howley. He is an excellent distributor of the ball, with a great mind and a knack of scoring important tries. However, I am glad that he has decided to retire, it seems his frail body has slowed him down somewhat and his distribution seems to have slowed down too. Far too often he cannot release the ball from a scrum or maul quick enough, instantly putting pressure on the outside half.

Thank you for your great service to Wales and the Lions; let's hope that Dwayne Peel will fill in your (large) footsteps.
Chris, Wales

I'll be sorry to see the greyhound's last outing. Once Scot hangs up his shirt I think it will be the end of Welsh Rugby. Thanks for the excitement over the years Rob.
Kevin, Wales

He will be dearly missed

Antony, Wales

A special player! With a player like him, England would be unstoppable. What would he have done in the great old Welsh teams of yesteryear. Better than Edwards? I hold my judgement.
Paul, England

From the only time I remember tackling you in Brynteg through your years in Bridgend, Cardiff (we'll forgive that lapse), Wales and the Lions - thanks for the memories Rob. Best wishes for the future to you, Ceri and the kid(s!)...
Just another Raven, Ireland

Wales have only really got two world-class players currently playing. Scott Quinnell is one, and Rob is the other. Welsh rugby seems to have been going through a "transitional period" for the last decade or so. Rob has been one of the few players to really shine, in some very bad Welsh teams. He will be greatly missed.
Will Williams, Wales

Rob has played behind a mediocre pack for the last few years and has showed the class he has, with his tries against England and others, he will be dearly missed, as we don't and probably never will have someone of his quality to come in and fill the gap.
Antony, Wales