Robin McBryde to coach Wales in 2017 summer tour

Robin McBryde has been named as the coach of Wales team for their summer tour in 2017.

The former hooker will take over from interim coach Rob Howley, who will be occupied with the assistant coach role in the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in June 2017.

Wales are scheduled to play Tonga and Samoa in their summer tour. Even though the fixtures are yet to be confirmed, Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips revealed that the 46-year-old will be in charge of the team.

This will be the third time McBryde will take charge of the Wales team after already doing so in 2009 tour of the United States and Canada followed by a tour of Japan in 2012.

Extending his best wishes to Gatland and Howley for the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, Phillips believes this will be an excellent opportunity for McBryde.

"Rob Howley joins Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions coaching team with our best wishes as the Lions embark upon one of the toughest and most high-profile campaigns in the world game.

"Both coaches can only benefit from the coaching experiences available to them, and in turn, we know the Wales national squad set-up will be able to reap the rewards of that experience upon their return to us.

"We have a clear strategy in Welsh rugby, with coaching and coach development a central priority at all levels of the game.

"It will be of huge benefit to Welsh rugby in the long-term that, within a small window during their coaching careers, we are able to provide significant development opportunities for Warren, Rob and Robin."

McBryde said he is looking forward to the opportunity to lead Wales once again and unlock some young talents in the tour in the absence of senior players due to the Lions tour.

"The tour is an exciting opportunity for the squad. It is always an honour to represent your country, and to do so overseas carries with it extra responsibility.

"We will be facing two passionate rugby nations and it will be a huge challenge for the players, but an opportunity for them to show what they are able to do in the red jersey.

"For me, it is another exciting opportunity to lead the team.

"It is something I have thoroughly enjoyed in the past, and I am really looking forward to doing it again at the end of the season.

"As is natural in a Lions year, we will inevitably have some senior players missing, but our focus will very much be on discovering future potential alongside maintaining current standards and, hopefully, coming away with two good performances and wins."