THE WEEK THAT’S LEFT WELSH RUGBY REELING

SEPT 11 Wales and Rob Howley fly to Tokyo. On the same day the Welsh Rugby Union are contacted informally by an unnamed betting company’s integrity team who tell them of an alleged breach of World Rugby’s regulation six.

SEPT 12 Wales land in Tokyo in the early hours and stay in the Japanese capital. Howley remains part of the group.

SEPT 13 The WRU are contacted formally with further information over a possible regulation six breach and at that point inform World Rugby. They also tell World Rugby they will be seeking face-toface time with Howley.

SEPT 14 In Cardiff, WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips and head of operations Julie Paterson decide they must fly out to Japan.

SEPT 15 Wales hold their first Rugby World Cup press conference in Kitakyushu. Phillips and Paterson fly to Japan.

SEPT 16 Phillips sits down with Warren Gatland. After that Phillips and Paterson meet with Howley. It is determined the right course of action is for him to return to Wales, which he does after the training session. He is absent from Wales’ welcome ceremony that evening.

SEPT 17 The news breaks that Howley has allegedly broken regulation six and has left Wales’ World Cup camp. The WRU confirm as much in a statement and reveal that Stephen Jones will fly to Japan as Howley’s replacement. It is also confirmed that a formal investigation is underway.

YESTERDAY Gatland and Phillips explain the circumstances behind Howley’s departure at a press conference. Skipper Alun Wyn Jones addresses the squad (right).