Quins look to Welsh connection

Harlequins' Welsh chief executive Mark Evans, currently also caretaker coach after the departure of Zinzan Brooke on New Year's Day, has gone back to his roots by asking Cardiff's Lynn Howells and Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins to help rebuild his coaching staff.

Evans, who looks likely to put Brooke's assistant Richard Hill in charge following the club's surprise Tetley's Bitter Cup semi-final victory over Leicester at The Stoop on Saturday, will not announce his new coach until the summer.

Howells, currently assistant to Welsh boss Graham Henry, and Jenkins, whose Llanelli are suffering a dismal season in the Welsh-Scottish League, are believed to have been approached as possible right-hand men for Hill, once assistant coach at Ebbw Vale. Howells, about to negotiate a new contract, said: 'I have been approached by Harlequins and I consider that something of an honour, but my loyalties at the moment are with Cardiff.'