Howley: I'm staying here

Rob Howley today categorically denied he was leaving London Wasps at the end of the season amid speculation that England scrum-half Matt Dawson will join the Zurich Premiership champions on a one-year contract from Northampton in the summer.

The former Welsh international, who has enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Dawson on two Lions tours, told Standard Sport today: "I am definitely not leaving Wasps. I still have a year left of my current contract and all that will be happening this summer is that I will undergo an operation to repair damage to my right wrist."

Dawson's name has been touted around all the major London clubs in the last two months following fundamental changes to the coaching and playing staff at Northampton.

It is expected that South Africa captain Corne Krige will join Northampton - who play Wasps in the Zurich Championship play-off at Wycombe on Sunday - and his arrival would put him on a collision course with the England scrum-half.

The pair have fallen out over Krige's style of aggressive play. To add to his woes, Dawson's star has been on the wane at the club since the arrival of Mark Robinson from New Zealand.

Any move to London would suit Dawson, whose girlfriend works at Harrow School. He believes that at the age of 31 he still has plenty to offer at the top level.