Former Wales assistant coach Rob Howely has been banned from any coaching role for 18 months the Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed.
Howley, who was assistant to former head coach Warren Gatland, was sent home from the Rugby World Cup in Japan six days before Wales’ opening game of the pool stages against Georgia due to allegations of betting, being replaced by former Wales international Stephen Jones.
Those allegations were brought forward to independent panel and he has now been found to have breached betting regulations and has subsequently been banned from coaching for 18 months with nine months suspended the WRU confirmed in a report this morning.
“Former Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has been suspended from involvement in the game for a period of 18 months, with nine months suspended, after breaching World Rugby Anti-corruption and Betting Regulations – known as regulation 6. After a thorough and detailed investigation by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Howley’s case was heard in Cardiff by an independent panel, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams. The panel has submitted its decision, which has been shared with World Rugby. Howley was withdrawn from his duties with Wales ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup as soon as the WRU became aware of a potential breach of regulations and an investigation was immediately launched. The suspension is backdated to the time of his initial withdrawal from the World Cup, on the 16th September 2019, meaning Howley would be free to return to the game on or after 16th June 2020. The decision, which has been published in full, comprehensively covers the charges and mitigating features considered by the panel. As such, no further comment will be made by the WRU or Rob Howley on this subject at this time and media are requested to please respect his privacy and that of his family with this in mind,” the report read.
The report also stated that the betting was triggered by a “family tragedy involving the death of his sister” along with stating that he had placed bets on two specific former players and they were interviewed during the process.
Overall, Howley was found to have placed 363 bets spreading over 1163 matches of rugby union in total through accounts from Betway, William Hill and Ladbrokes.
Both Gatland and Howley have left their posts with Wales, with the former going on to test the Super Rugby with the Chiefs. However, for Howley his career could be effectively over following this series of events.
