CARDIFF (Reuters) - Wales coach Warren Gatland will be back midweek to continue preparations for next Saturday's test against Scotland after flying home to New Zealand following the death of his father, media reports said. Gatland, 55, flew to Auckland last Tuesday, leaving it unclear whether he would be back for the first of four November tests at the Principality Stadium on Nov. 3.
But British media reports on Saturday said he planned to return by Wednesday. In his absence, the build-up has been led by Rob Howley along with the other assistants Shaun Edwards and Robin McBryde.
"Warren has always been happy to discuss plans and make sure we are on the same page and happy for us to take a lead on different occasions," said McBryde, who coached Wales on their mid-year tour last year when both Gatland and Howley were both away in the New Zealand with the Lions.
"Rob has stepped up and been in this position before so it has not affected us too much. The plans have been in place for a while about when we train.
"It is about implementing that now, and we have always had the flexibility to change things on the hoof."
Wales, preparing for next year's World Cup, follow the clash against the Scots with tests against Australia on Nov. 10, Tonga on Nov. 17 and South Africa on Nov. 24.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)