The 59-times capped scrum-half has agreed a three-year deal with the London-based club.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," said Howley. "It is an opportunity to play in the best league in the northern hemisphere and it will provide me with a new buzz.

"I'm here to win medals, to win the Premiership and to show Wasps rugby club the commitment they have shown to me."

Howley, who captained Wales 22 times before retiring from the international scene in April, had one year left on his contract at the Arms Park.

"The reason I gave up international rugby is because the one thing you lose out on is your family environment," said Howley, whose second daughter was born this year.

"My wife is totally supportive. I wouldn't be moving if I didn't have the support of my family. I'm looking forward to the next three years and beyond."

The fact he will not be away on international duty is a bonus for Wasps but club chairman Chris Wright insisted that it would not have made any difference.

"We would have signed Rob either way," Wright said. "You need to have star players on the pitch and what he has done for Wales and the British Lions has no parallel.

"He's a real superstar with nothing left to prove at international level. Rob is probably the best scrum-half in the northern hemisphere.

Howley has sacrificed playing in next season's Heineken European Cup to join Wasps, but the deal represents good value for a player at the twilight of his career.

The 31-year-old has suffered regularly with injury throughout his career, and there were fears that the knee injury he picked up last season would end his playing days.

Wasps also hope the acquisition of a star name will help attract near 10,000-capacity crowds to their new home at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park football ground.

This follows their move from Loftus Road, where Queens Park Rangers will be sharing with Fulham for the next two years.

Bath had been the early favourites to land Howley's signature, but the West Country side's interest ended when they signed Scotland under-21 international Ross Blake last week.

Blake's move could also see one of Welsh youngsters Gareth Cooper or Andy Williams being offloaded by coach Mike Foley, as three up-and-coming scrum-halves seem surplus to requirements.

Meanwhile, Pontypridd are understood to have made their final offer for the return of Neil Jenkins to Sardis Road and are losing patience with the haggling.

With Iestyn Harris and Nicky Robinson both also vying for the Cardiff No 10 shirt, coach Rudi Joubert - or whoever will be in charge of Cardiff - has plenty of options.

Joubert is seeking to be released from the remaining year of his contract to return to his native South Africa, where he has been asked to take charge of the Bulls Super 12 side.

With the departure of out-of-contract Fijian international Nicky Little from Sardis Road, Lynn Howells currently has only Ceri Sweeney as a frontline fly-half.