ROBIN McBryde will lead Wales on their summer tour to the Pacific Islands after Rob Howley landed a job with the British and Irish Lions.

The former Wales hooker will take the reins as caretaker boss for the third time after leading the tours to North America in 2009 and Japan in 2013.

Forwards coach McBryde is going to be at the helm for the June dates against Tonga and Samoa, with fixture details yet to be confirmed.

Despite the autumn series being solid if unspectacular, Wales are likely to have a strong Lions playing contingent under boss Warren Gatland so will be keen to mix youth with a few older heads against two tough teams.

“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,” said McBryde.

“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’m 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.”

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips believes that Gatland and Howley’s experiences against the world champions will profit Wales and also enable McBryde, whose assistants will be revealed next week, to flourish.

“We have a clear strategy in Welsh Rugby, with coaching and coach development a central priority at all levels of the game,” said Phillips.

“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.

“We are also at an advanced stage in discussions with a number of other individuals about the summer tour and hope to be in a position to confirm the full make-up of the management team next week.”