‘IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE MONEY... BETTING ON RUGBY WAS ESCAPISM’
Rob Howley blames himself for the death of his sister and has spoken of how he believes it was the trigger for the gambling scandal which saw him sent home from the Rugby World Cup in disgrace. Andy Howell reports on how Warren Gatland’s former deputy has
WARREN GATLAND’S number two was banned from rugby for 18 months, nine of it suspended, after a Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary panel launched an investigation into his betting activities. Howley admitted breaching the rules of the sport by placing 363 bets on it.
The former Wales captain has kept his counsel on the scandal since it broke.
But he has now given a candid interview in a London paper to speak in detail about the matter for the first time.
Howley has opened up about:
How the scandal unfolded during the World Cup in Japan, and the humiliation and embarrassment he felt;
The personal turmoil that led to it happening;
Being “pretty stupid” in using his WRU email address and work phone to place his bets;
The stunned reaction of Gatland and that of Wales centre Jonathan Davies;
How he lost more than £4,000 in bets;
The months of therapy he has undergone; and
His desire to return to rugby when his suspension ends on June 16.
Howley starts the interview talking about the loss of his schoolteacher sister Karen, who passed away nine years ago after suffering from depression and alcoholism following a divorce.
He details how he found her a new home and visited most Wednesdays, but didn’t the week of the away Six Nations match with Italy in 2011.
He went to the house the day after the game and found it locked.
Police were called and they found her dead inside.
“I blamed myself for her death. If I’d seen her on that Wednesday, would she still be alive?”, Howley told the Mail Online.
“There was a lot of guilt, should haves, could haves. By putting her in that house, on her own, I created an environment for her to kill herself.
“Her alcoholism went from bad to worse. My feeling was that I had driven my sister to her own grave.”
Howley insisted he was in denial and used his job with Wales to block out the tragedy.
He says the gambling started after his guilt returned when he found documents in an attic while dealing with his sister’s estate in November 2015, saying it gave him an escape route from his torment.
His first bet on rugby was on French Top 14 side Stade Francais.
“It was never about the money. When my thoughts went towards my sister, betting on rugby was an escapism,” maintained Howley.
He knew what he was doing was against rugby’s strict betting rules for players, coaches and officials.
Howley says he lost £4,000 in four years and even admitted he used his WRU email address and work phone to place his bets, which he accepts wasn’t the wisest thing to do.
The scandal came to light before Wales’ opening match of the World
Cup against Georgia last September following a tip-off to the WRU.
He speaks of how he was summoned to the hotel bar for a “beer” by Wales team manager Alan “Thumper” Phillips, who was waiting for him with Gatland.
Detailing the conversation, Howley says: “He said, ‘What do you want?’ Oblivious to what was
about to come, I had half a lager and asked, ‘Is everything OK?’
“Thumper said: ‘ Have you been betting on rugby?’ Gats asked the same thing and I said: ‘ Yeah, I have’.
“Thumper put his hands to his head and there was this silence.
“Gats asked me how significant the amounts were and I told him there were some bets on Wales.”
Howley then says Gatland told him straight: “I think you’re going to be sent home.”
Howley said he went back to his room and sat on his bed crying, before phoning his wife Ceri to tell her what had happened.
He then informed key players, including Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and Davies, about the revelations the following morning.
“Jonathan just looked dumbstruck. I felt like I’d let everyone down. It was humiliating and embarrassing,” said Howley, who then embarked on a solo journey back to Wales.
On the way, his mobile phone bleeped with a notification informing him he had been deleted from the Wales team’s WhatsApp groups.
Howley says he has been like a recluse for months, but had “unbelievable” and “comforting” support from colleagues and friends, including Gatland.
“Gats’ support was unwavering. If I had to pick someone to line me up against a wall and shoot me, it would be Warren Gatland because of how I let him down,” said Howley.
The former Lions star had three months of sessions with a clinical psychologist as he sought to find answers for his behaviour.
Howley said the psychologist concluded it went back to how he had dealt with his sister’s death.
However, Howley remains determined to return to rugby and had already received an offer before Christmas from English Premiership giants Wasps.
They were coached at the time by Howley’s former Wales team-mate David Young, who has since been replaced by his former assistant Lee Blackett.
Howley said the telephone call from Wasps owner Derek Richardson reassured him he could return to the game he loved.
He had been lined up to become head coach of Italy, although Franco Smith has since been appointed.
There is also next year’s Gatland-led Lions tour of South Africa to consider, although politically that could be too hot, with the South African media almost certain to seize upon it if Howley is appointed, and use it as a weapon during the trip in an attempt to destabilise and undermine the Lions.
Howley is adamant the experience of his torment may have helped him by teaching him the importance of expressing feelings rather than hiding them in the hope they would disappear.
“There’s no shame or weakness in showing any emotional vulnerability,” he said, pointing out: “I’m the same coach now as the coach that was part of a Grand Slam winning team.”
ROB Howley’s suspension from rugby after admitting breaches of the sport’s rules on betting ends on June 16.
Warren Gatland’s old Wales number two wants to find a new job as quickly as possible, but what are the options likely to be available to him?
Ex-Wales captain Howley has had a couple of stints in caretaker charge of Wales.
He delivered the Six Nations title in 2013 as his side humiliated Grand Slam-chasing England by a record 30-3 in one of the greatest performances in Welsh history.
But it didn’t go so well for Howley the last time he was in charge, with Wales finishing second from bottom in the 2017 title race.
It was their worst showing during the reign of Gatland.
Nevertheless Howley, who was Lions backs coach three times – against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – has plenty of credit in the rugby bank, much of it outside Wales.
We examine job options which may be on the table, or could appeal to Howley upon his return to the game.
THE ITALIAN JOB
Howley was nailed-on for the Azzurri post after it was announced he would not be seeking to succeed Gatland as Wales boss.
But along came the betting scandal and suddenly the picture changed with South Africa international Franco Smith, who had a stint playing for Newport, being appointed on an interim basis.
Coincidentally, on Saturday he was upgraded to being permanent coach. That suggests the Italian Federation are happy with his work, so any deal with Howley is off. But if it doesn’t work with Smith, Italy could come back in.
REJOINING WASPS
Howley is a firm favourite of supporters and bigwigs of the English Premiership giants, for his deeds as a player when Gatland was coach.
On-field catalyst Howley was integral to Wasps lifting the Heineken Cup and taking domestic honours as they became the northern hemisphere’s dominant force.
Howley has revealed Wasps owner Derek Richardson spoke to him just before Christmas about working with then director of rugby Dai Young.
But Young has since left the Coventry-based club and been replaced by his former assistant Lee Blackett.
Former backs coach Blackett has taken up the position of head coach with ex-Great Britain rugby league star Martin Gleeson currently assistant attack coach.
Blackett has unveiled two new additions to his coaching set-up for next season but neither of them will work with the backs.
So it’s not inconceivable Howley, if he forsakes his previously stated ambition to prove himself as a head coach at club level, could head for the friendship of Wasps if Blackett wants an extra pair of hands.
BECOMING GLOUCESTER BOSS
The Cherry and Whites hope to be able to confirm their new head coach in the next few weeks following the departure of Johan Ackermann to Japanese side NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Gloucester have drawn up a shortlist of five candidates to replace the South African with Howley believed to be one of the persons of interest. The others are thought to be Dai Young, former England coach Stuart Lancaster, Edinburgh boss Richard Cockerill and internal candidate Rory Teague, who has support from influential players at Kingsholm,
“We will be talking to our shortlist over the coming weeks, and plan to make an announcement in early July,” said Gloucester chief executive Lance Bradley.
It’s one of the most attractive roles in English club rugby and may appeal to Howley as it would enable him to fulfil his dream of having a chance to prove he is head coach material. He could a lso commu te from his home near Bridgend.
THE WELSH REGIONS
The Ospreys are the only Welsh region with a vacancy, with new head coach Toby Booth – who has previously held high-profile positions with London Irish, Bath and Harlequins – yet to name a backs guru.
Current attack orchestrator Matt Sherratt is joining Gallagher Premiership side Worcester Warriors after just two seasons at the Liberty Stadium.
However, the WRU are also involved in the recruitment of coaches by the regions and may not be keen on Howley’s rehabilitation beginning in Wales following his World Cup embarrassment.
Gatland, when revealing Howley didn’t want to succeed him, also hinted his pal would prefer to seek employment outside Wales.
Even though Howley resides in selfstyled ‘Ospreylia’, he splits opinion on his worth among rugby followers in Wales and it seems a long shot he would join the Swansea-based outfit.
THE LIONS AGAIN
There is also next year’s Gatland-led Lions tour of South Africa for Howley to consider.
Gatland likes and trusts Howley and he has plenty in the bank, having been Lions backs coach on the last three tours. He knows what helps make the Lions tick.
However, politically, it could be too hot with the South African media almost certain to seize on it if he was appointed and use it as a weapon during the trip in an effort to undermine the Lions.
The Lions were the subject of hostile treatment from the Kiwi media in New Zealand and will want as little controversy as possible when they face the world champion Springboks.
There’s virtually no doubt Howley, who was a fabulous player for the Lions and sees them as the pinnacle, would jump at the chance of making history by going unbeaten against rugby’s three southern hemisphere giants if circumstances allowed.
But, if he gets his wish and quickly lands a job when his ban is up, his new employers may be reluctant to release him for the Lions, even if Gatland wants his trusted lieutenant on board.
BEING ENTICED TO ENGLAND
This would throw the cat among the pigeons.
England head honcho Eddie Jones has gone through plenty of coaches since he succeeded Stuart Lancaster following the 2015 World Cup debacle when they were knocked out at the pool stage.
Australian attack specialists Glen Ella and Scott Wisemantel have come and gone, while there was a period when Jones put himself in charge of the England backs.
It’s been the same with his forwards with Paul Gustard, Neal Hatley and Steve Borthwick having upped sticks and taken other jobs.
Jones has a reputation for being demanding and intense, working long hours into the night, and is an out-and-out winner who wants the best.
He appointed former Great Britain Sevens coach Simon Amor, the architect behind a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, as his attack organiser for this year’s Six Nations.
The move shocked the media with Amor at the time being director of rugby at English Championship club London Scottish.
England’s attack during the Six Nations has produced only nine tries, trailing behind France and Wales in that facet.
If Jones thought Amor wasn’t delivering, his track record suggests him not hesitating to look elsewhere.
The outspoken Jones had success in working with another Welsh coach in Leigh Jones when Japan provided the biggest upset in World Cup history by beating South Africa in the 2015 tournament.
So a move for Howley, while highly unlikely, cannot be completely discounted.