GLOUCESTER coach Nigel Melville believes former Wales skipper Rob Howley should not have quit international rugby.

And he pinpoints the ex-Cardiff scrum-half, who moved to Wasps this summer, as the main danger to his new club Gloucester's dominance at the top of the Zurich Premiership.

"Howley is a big threat to us, he is playing tremendously well. He is a very talented player, a good runner, he is very dangerous given space and he is a good kicker too", said Gloucester's new coaching supremo.

Wasps pulled off a summer coup as Howley will not be subject to Welsh calls following retirement from international rugby and Melville said: "I don't know why he has retired - maybe he should be still playing for Wales. I'm sure they could do with him." But he declined to dwell on his time at Wasps.

"That's then, that's history as far as I am concerned. You have to move on and I am here now, enjoying every minute of it," he said.

Melville has kept a close watch on the fortunes of his old side while overseeing the Gloucester surge which has them go six points clear after just six league matches.

"It is virtually the same side I had when I was there, so I know them pretty well. I know a lot of detail about them, which is an advantage in preparation," added Melville who is looking forward to visiting his old club's new home at High Wycombe's Adams Park.

"It is good in a way that they are playing at a different ground now. I have never been there and it will be nice to see how they are getting on," he said.

Wasps coach Warren Gatland has shuffled his pack, bringing back former All Black prop Craig Dowd at loose-head for Darren Molloy, Joe Worsley at number eight with Lawrence Dallaglio moving to blindside and Peter Scrivener dropping out. Former Scotland wing Kenny Logan takes the place of John Rudd, who will be on a bench. It is also reunion time at Bath where former coach Jon Callard and hooker Mark Regan, who left the West Country club in less than happy circumstances, return with Leeds Tykes.

Callard, who ended 14 years at Bath as player and coach after declining to work under former Australian hooker Michael Foley, said: "One unpleasant week can't take away the fabulous memories."