Ex-Wales coach Rob Howley banned for betting breach
- 1840
Former Wales attack coach, Rob Howley, has been banned from rugby union for 18 months for breaching betting rules.
Howley was sent home from the Rugby World Cup in Japan just days before Wales’ opening game of the tournament after a bookmaker alerted the Welsh Rugby Union to a possible breach of betting rules.
Following three month investigation, a Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary panel has decided Howley's punishment. Half of his ban is suspended and the suspension is backdated to the time of his initial withdrawal... meaning Howley would be free to return to the game on 16th June 2020
More on Howley decision: “During the period of 13th November 2015 and 7th September 2019, as the Welsh Rugby Union National Squad Assistant Coach, you placed 364 bets on rugby union, featuring 1,163 matches in total, using accounts held with Betway, William Hill and Ladbrokes"
— Owain Jones (@OwainJTJones) December 16, 2019
World Rugby regulations state that players at all levels as well as agents, match officials, disciplinary personnel, coaching and backroom staff, owners and directors involved at the highest level are banned from betting on any rugby match.
World Rugby’s regulation 6.3.1 states: “No Connected Person shall, directly or indirectly, bet and/or attempt to bet on the outcome or any aspect of any Connected Event and/or receive and/or attempt to receive part or all of the proceeds of any such bet and/or any other benefit in relation to a bet.”
BREAKING: Rob Howley banned for 18 months with nine months suspended for breaching World Rugby rules on betting. Howley had a total of 363 bets which included Wales games and backing Wales players as first try scorers.
— Alex Bywater (@_AlexBywater) December 16, 2019
— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) December 16, 2019
