WALES coaches Rob Howley and Robin McBryde have signed fresh contracts to be part of Warren Gatland's management team through to the 2019 World Cup.

Attack coach Howley and forwards coach McBryde followed defence guru Shaun Edwards in penning new deals following a review after England 2015.

They have formed a partnership under Gatland since 2008 that has seen Wales win two Grand Slams in 2008 and 2012, a Six Nations title in 2013, reach the World Cup semi-final in 2011 and the quarter-finals last autumn.

"We sat down with Warren post Rugby World Cup and conducted a review of the campaign and the team and looked ahead to the next four year cycle and the 2019 tournament in Japan," said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips.

"We concluded that this is a tight, ambitious coaching team and one we believe will make us more competitive in 2019.

"We looked at the coaches as a team and this is a team that works well together, it has trust.

"We have put together a four-year rugby strategy which is in its second year and having continuity and stability at the helm is part of ensuring that strategy is delivered upon.

"The appointment of Geraint John to concentrate on elite performance and Ryan Jones' to look after community rugby were our first major changes at the Welsh Rugby Union.

"Those appointments are all about investing in and bringing accountability to those areas and we will also make additional investments in rugby below the pro game to enable the long term health of the game.

"We are coming into year two of the strategy and we have plans around how we can freshen things up, but we are delighted to be able to confirm both Rob and Robin will now be with us until, at least, beyond the 2019 world Cup."

Howley joined as assistant from Cardiff Blues in 2008 and deputised for Gatland during the 2013 Six Nations while the New Zealander was preparing to lead the Lions in Australia.

McBryde was first called upon by Scott Johnson in 2006, was retained by Gareth Jenkins and re-appointed by Gatland.

Howley said: "We have a fantastic group of players in Wales, not just those on tour with us in New Zealand at the moment but at home with the U20s and coming through in the regions and I'm really looking forward to building towards Japan.

"We have a clear focus and strategy in place and we will continue to work hard to give the players the very best opportunity to achieve their full potential."

McBryde said: "Our current focus is of course, as always, on the next game, but we have a long-term objective and strategy too.

"I think we all feel we have some unfinished business at the Rugby World Cup and, as Martyn Phillips has identified, a successful trip to Japan is the key overreaching target for us all."