WRU Bans Ex-Wales Coach Howley for Breach of Betting Rules

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has banned former Wales assistant coach Rob Howley from all involvement in rugby for 18 months, nine of which are suspended, after breaching anti-corruption and betting regulations.

It was found that, over a four-year period from November 2015 to September 2019, Howley placed 363 bets involving 1163 rugby matches with three bookmakers through accounts held under his own name.

Of the bets, 24 were placed on “connected events,” some of which involved matches in which Wales were participating. On two occasions he bets on unnamed Wales players scoring tries.

“Howley was withdrawn from his duties with Wales ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup as soon as the WRU became aware of a potential breach of regulations and an investigation was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,” WRU said.

In the written decision released by the WRU, it is revealed that the former Wales and Lions scrum-half accepted the charge “without qualification.”

The alarm was first raised when WRU policy and integrity manager Jeremy Rogers was contacted by an employee of Betway, who said that Howley had placed bets on Wales games.

At a September meeting to explain the process for the investigation, it was noted that Howley was “visibly upset” and said: “I’m putting my hands up. If I was being evasive, I wouldn’t have used my work mobile phone and email account.”

Howley conceded he knew betting on matches involving Wales was a breach of World Rugby anti-corruption and betting regulations.