HOWLEY BLOWS CHANCE OF ITALY JOB
Rob Howley’s world Cup exit for allegedly breaching gambling regulations is set to cost him the chance of his first permanent senior coaching role with Italy.
Sportsmail has learned that the wales attack coach is one of four candidates who have been interviewed for the Italy job, with his impressive presentation initially leading him to be viewed as the favourite to replace Conor o’shea.
Now, with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) eager to make a quick decision after the tournament, Howley’s hopes have been dashed. o’shea is under contract with Italy until May 2020, so could stay on to preside over next year’s six Nations Championship.
The Italians’ options have narrowed following the collapse of Howley’s candidacy and former Harlequins coach o’shea could yet be offered a new deal if Italy are successful in Japan, where they face a difficult task to beat one of New Zealand or south Africa to reach the quarter-finals.
A spokesperson for the FIR declined to comment on Howley’s situation.
Howley, 48, is likely to be ruled out by Italy even if he is ultimately cleared by an independent panel convened by the welsh Rugby Union (wRU), due to the lengthy nature of the disciplinary process.
He is accused of having breached world Rugby’s Regulation 6, which prohibits players and officials from betting on any rugby-related matter. The integrity unit of a bookmaker flagged Howley’s alleged gambling activity to the wRU last week.
The sanctions for such a breach range from a reprimand to a life ban from the sport, although the latter punishment is only implemented where there is evidence of match-fixing or spot-fixing, which is not thought to be the case with Howley. Under world Rugby regulations, evidence of repeated betting from participants has led to lengthy suspensions, however, with former leicester defence coach Phil blake banned for six months in 2015 for placing two bets on matches involving his club.
last year agent Matt Hart, who has represented england’s Maro Itoje, was banned for 22 months for betting 1,476 times on matches all around the world and depositing more than £666,000 in an online betting account.
The wRU have warned Howley that the disciplinary process is likely to be lengthy, irrespective of its outcome, because it will involve forensic examination of his gambling history, bank details and phone records before a hearing can be convened.
both parties will also have the right of appeal.
The FA’s recent disciplinary proceedings against former england striker Daniel sturridge took almost 18 months to conclude before he was given a six-week ban from football for passing inside information to a family member regarding a possible transfer from liverpool.
The FA investigation began in January 2018 after they were alerted to suspicious betting activity on markets involving sturridge joining european clubs, but the player was not charged until November 2018 before finally being found guilty two months ago.
The governing body had been seeking a six- month ban for sturridge, but an independent regulatory commission gave him a six-week suspension after clearing him of nine of the 11 charges.
Howley, a former wales scrum-half, has been associated with the wRU for fo 23 years as a player and coach, and was caretaker coach twice when w warren Gatland was w coaching the lions.
wales will train with new n attack coach stephen Jones for the ffirst fi time today.
In their first training session since Howley’s sudden departure, wales w went through two t intense workouts — the second under floodlights in the evening to replicate conditions for their world Cup opener against a Georgia in Toyota on Monday.