Howley banned until June over bets

Rob Howley has been banned from any involvement in rugby until June 2020 after it emerged he had placed bets on matches involving Wales and two of their players.

Howley, former assistant coach to Warren Gatland, was sent home from the World Cup in September and has been suspended for 18 months by the Welsh Rugby Union with nine months of the sanction suspended.

It was found that, over a fouryear period from November 2015 to September 2019, Howley placed 363 bets involving 1,163 rugby matches with three bookmakers through accounts held under his own name.

Of the bets, 24 involved Wales or were related to “connected events”, such as Six Nations games involving rival teams. On two occasions he bet on unnamed Wales players scoring tries.

Howley returned home from Japan shortly before the autumn’s World Cup began after the WRU became aware of possible wrongdoing.

The ban is backdated to the time of his initial withdrawal from the showpiece, on September 16, meaning he will be able to take up a post in rugby from June 16.

In the written decision released by the WRU, it is revealed that the former Lions scrum-half accepted the charge “without qualification”.

It emerged he gambled on a Wales player to be the first try scorer in the 25-7 Six Nations victory over Ireland in March, but the 49-year-old stated that it was part of a treble bet that fell in line with his normal recreational betting activity.

He also backed another player to score a try.

Following examination of Howley’s electronic devices, including his laptop and phone, “no material was discovered which incriminated Mr Howley to an extent greater than that which he had already admitted”.

Howley has the right to appeal against the decision.

Rob Howley: Sent home from World Cup.