Wales coach banished home under betting investigation cloud
Betting on any rugby game is outlawed for players, coaches and match officials.
Rob Howley, the Wales backs coach passes the ball during the Wales pre Rugby World Cup training session on July 20, 2019 in Fiesch, Switzerland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has returned home from the World Cup in Japan for a potential breach of World Rugby’s regulation on betting.
The Welsh Rugby Union said that Howley had “returned to Wales to assist with an investigation in relation to a potential breach of World Rugby regulation 6, specifically betting on rugby union”.
Betting on any rugby game is outlawed for players, coaches and match officials.
The 48-year-old former Wales captain has been part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team since 2008.
Former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, who was due to succeed Howley as attack specialist after the tournament, will join the squad later this week.
Wales’ opening World Cup game against Georgia is less than a week away on September 23.
“The decision was taken to act immediately in light of recent information passed to the WRU,” the WRU said in a statement.
“No further details can be provided at this stage as this would prejudice the investigation. If required, an independent panel will be appointed to hear the case.
“Rob has co-operated fully with our initial discussions, and we would ask that the media appreciate this is a difficult and personal matter for Rob and that his privacy is respected before an outcome is reached.
“Warren Gatland has consulted with senior players, and Stephen Jones will be arriving in Japan imminently to link up with the squad as attack coach.”
Howley enjoyed a glittering playing career, making 59 appearances for Wales and captaining his country on 22 occasions.
He also toured twice as a player with the British and Irish Lions and was part of the Lions coaching staff on the three successive tours from 2009 to 2017.
Howley also coached Wales to the 2013 Six Nations title when Gatland was preparing for the Lions tour to Australia later that year.
He had been due to leave his Wales coaching role after the World Cup, along with Gatland and fellow assistants Shaun Edwards and Robin McBryde.
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