Former Wales rugby star Howley back, with Canada
Rob Howley, a former star scrum half for Wales and the British and Irish Lions whose coaching career was derailed by a betting scandal, has returned to rugby as senior assistant coach for the Canadian national men’s team.
The former Wales back coach was banned from the sport for 18 months — with nine months suspended — last December for betting on matches, including Wales games. Howley has signed a three- year contract with Rugby Canada, which takes him through the 2023 World Cup. As part of the deal, the 49-yearold will work with the Toronto Arrows as a consultant for the 2021 Major League Rugby season.
“Rob is one of the most highly regarded coaches in international rugby and I’m ecstatic that he will be joining us at Rugby Canada,” Canada’s coach Kingsley Jones, a former Wales captain, said in a statement Wednesday.
Born in Bridgend, Howley won 59 caps for Wales and was selected for British and Irish Lions tours in 1997 and 2001. On the club level, he played for Cardiff before joining England’s Wasps, where he won two Premiership titles and the 2004 Heineken Cup.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Rugby Canada and begin working alongside Kingsley Jones and the other Canadian coaches,” said Howley.