Howley 'seeking advice' over Byrne bullying allegations
Wales back coach Rob Howley says he is ‘seeking advice’ in relation to bullying accusations made by former Wales fullback Lee Byrne in a recent autobiography.
In an interview given to the Observer’s Paul Rees, Howley said: “I am very surprised by his comments. I deny the allegations and I am seeking advice.”
Rob Howley plans to leave his role with Wales in 2019 and hopes to take a coaching job in England or France rather than replace Warren Gatland.
Howley’s tenure with Wales as a backs coach and occasionally as a caretaker coach, and his stint alongside Warren Gatland with the British and Irish Lions, have been the subject of much derision among fans.
Accusations that he bullied former fullback Lee Byrne have added to his woes in recent weeks.
In an extract from his book – The Byrne Identity – published this month, Byrne speaks of his time in the Gatland regime and how his relationship with Howley soured.
The below extract revolves around a call Byrne received from Howley in November 2013, while having a drink with Alex Lapandry in Clermont.
‘In around 2011, cracks started to appear in our relationship. I’d been affected by a knee injury and had worked my backside off to make the squad for the World Cup.’
‘But when I returned to the training field, I noticed that Howley had a different attitude towards me. I felt he was trying to undermine me, in a subtle yet insidious way.’
‘At the time Leigh Halfpenny – the man who was to take my full-back jersey – was flavour of the month.’
‘Great kick, Halfers. Well done, Halfers!’ Howley would yell during training. Fair enough, except when I nailed the same kick there’d be stony silence. ‘Awesome angle, Halfers!’ he’d cry, only to ignore anything decent I did, whilst loudly criticising my mistakes.’
‘These were not isolated incidents, but a recurring theme. The pattern became glaringly obvious to my team-mates, who’d take the mickey out of me about it.’
‘Byrney!’ they’d shout at me, in imitation of Howley and his signature bawl. It was funny – but I was starting to get the impression the top brass didn’t want me.’
‘Please don’t think I’m whingeing here. I appreciate that coaches have a job to do. And I also understand that players have their sell-by date.’
‘Naturally, I wouldn’t have enjoyed being phased out of the team however he’d done it. But I’d have had more respect for Howley if, as a senior coach, he’d taken me aside and told me what was happening.’
‘That was the way Gatland generally handled things, to be fair. And I didn’t mind being shouted at, either. Shaun Edwards – another Gatland lieutenant – did it the whole time, but I accepted it because his intentions were good.’
‘This was different. Far from being a strategy to help me improve, it seemed to me that Howley’s constant sniping was part of a grinding-down process – step by step and day by day – to get me out of the team. I felt like he was trying to break me down mentally, to make me give in so they could justify dropping me.’
‘The snide remarks had started earlier, when he began passing comment about my social life. As we each resided in Bridgend and knew many of the same people, it would often get back to him if I’d been out. ‘Good night last night, Byrney?’ or ‘Out again on the weekend, Byrney?’ he’d say, in front of the other players.’
‘Again, I thought this was unnecessary. I’d always enjoyed a night out when the time was right. It had never been a problem before, but suddenly it seemed as if my social habits were being used as ammunition against me.’
‘I wasn’t the only player he’d pick on using these tactics, but few would stand up to him. One exception was Phillsy (Mike Phillips), who once told him where to go.’
‘That kind of edge made Mike a great player, but it wasn’t my style. Instead, I just put up with it and simmered.’
‘By the 2012 Six Nations, I was no more first choice in the Wales team. But I was still named in the training squad. Each week I’d return from France for training.’
‘This was no mean feat: on the Sunday night I’d take a flight from Clermont to Amsterdam then onto Cardiff, before making the return journey in midweek, after the match-day squad had been announced.’
‘To make matters worse, the WRU – as part of their cost-cutting measures at the time – were not covering my travel expenses.’
‘The players who’d driven from Swansea or Llanelli weren’t happy about this, so imagine how I felt. The to-ing and fro-ing left me about five or six grand out of pocket (I eventually got a small amount back).’
‘At no point did I consider retiring from Wales duty, but it was a fair way to come – at my own expense – to hold tackle bags.’
‘So this was the background to the phone call I received that November night in 2013. Eased out of the Wales team; subjected, in my view, to bullying treatment; dragged back and forth to Wales with hardly any compensation for my troubles.’
‘For two years, there’d been no communication with the management; but here was a man – a man who I felt had tried to humiliate me in front of my team-mates – ringing up and expecting me to come running because he’d clicked his fingers, to be cannon-fodder for a Friday night game against Tonga.’
‘I excused myself to Alex and left the bar to check my voicemail. Rob’s message was as I’d expected: ‘Byrney, get on the plane. You’re starting against Tonga.’
‘I took a moment to reflect, then called him back. The call diverted to his voicemail.’
‘Forget it, Rob,’ I said. ‘I ain’t coming back.’
‘I never played for Wales again.’
Comments on RugbyPass
Hard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
2 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
237 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to comments