Rob Howley, former Wales’ back coach, has faced an 18-month ban from rugby for placing bets on matches, including his team’s games. The suspension is backdated to September 16th, 2019, when he withdrew from the club’s World Cup campaign.
Howley was found to have placed a total of 363 bets on rugby union, featuring 1,163 matches in the period from November 14th, 2015 to September 7th, 2019. According to evidence, the 49-year-old back coach used his e-mail account and his Welsh Rugby Union phone to place the wagers.
As previously reported by Casino Guardian, Mr Howley was sent home from Japan less than a week before the opening match of Wales against its Pool D opponents. He was then replaced by Stephen Jones. At the time when that happened, Howley had been part of the backroom staff of Warren Gatland for more than a decade – since the beginning of 2008. The betting allegations forced the club to take instant measures and make him leave his active role when they sent him back home from Japan.
He faced an investigation for having allegedly violated some regulatory rules linked to betting and anti-corruption. After his punishment is through, he would be able to return to the sport on June 16th, 2020 but his violations and the probe that followed afterwards prevented him from becoming the new Italy head coach.
Howley Lost £4,000 over the Five Years He Placed Bets on Rugby
Rob Howley got suspended from the sport for violating World Rugby’s regulation 6.3.1 under which no person connected to the sport is permitted to directly or indirectly bet or even attempt to place a bet on the outcome of any event connected with the game.
Wales’ back coach admitted that he placed bets on a total of 24 “connected events”, including games that involved either the club or some of its players. Howley, however, explained that either of the players he had placed bets on had been aware of the bets. The bets were relatively small, as they were for no more than a few pounds.
An immediate internal investigation was held at the time when the tournament in Japan took place. Then, the case of Wales’ back coach was heard by an independent panel in Cardiff. As the statement of the WRU reads, the panel, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, had submitted its decision that had also been shared with the World Rugby organisation.
Howley was found to have lost about £4,000 during the investigated 5-year period. He made no financial gains in return to his bets. A family tragedy was the reason that triggered Howley’s betting on sporting events. This has been considered a mitigating factor for the part of the ban hat involved Howley’s suspension, along with the fact that he accepted his responsibility early and was found to have not been dishonest about the breach. No internal and confidential information had been used by Howley when placing the bets.
- Author
Daniel Williams
