'I still believe now that I had Welsh blood running through my veins' - Grannygate victim unapologetic nearly two decades after scandal
Nearly two decades after the infamous ‘Grannygate’ scandal that rocked international rugby, former New Zealand-born Wales fullback Shane Howarth remains adamant of his Welsh heritage, despite being banned from playing for his adopted nation.
Howarth was one of three players – including Kiwi-born Welsh teammate Brett Sinkinson and England-born Scottish international David Hilton – exposed for representing nations they were supposedly ineligible to play for in 2000.
After playing four tests for the All Blacks in 1994, Howarth switched international allegiances to play for Wales four years later after then-head coach Sir Graham Henry convinced him to do so.
Believing he had qualified via his Cardiff-born maternal grandfather, Thomas Williams, Howarth went on to play 19 times for Wales between 1998 and 2000, which included four tests at the 1999 World Cup.
However, an inquiry by World Rugby, then known as the International Rugby Board (IRB), saw Howarth, along with Sinkinson and Hilton, deemed to be ineligible to play for their new nations, and with no proof of his grandfather’s birthplace, Howarth’s second international career was cut short at the age of 32.
Speaking to WalesOnline, the former Auckland, Blues, Worcester, Wasps and Pacific Islanders assistant coach, who now runs a supermarket in Auckland, remains unrepentant about his decision to declare for Wales 19 years on from the saga, but still feels the pain from the downfall the ensued from the drama.
“I couldn’t prove he was my grandfather. It wasn’t on the birth certificate,” Howarth, who was also pursued by England due to his English lineage, said.
“But, in my heart, I truly believed, and I still believe now, that I had Welsh blood running through my veins.
“There were a lot of players involved in it, but, unfortunately – I guess because I was an All Black – I kind of got singled out.
“But, to this day, I am Welsh. If I can’t get papers to prove that, then have a look at the 20 games I played in the red jersey and see if I wasn’t Welsh.
“And, if I wasn’t Welsh, why the hell would I turn England down and play for a country I’m supposedly not available for?
“That’s my take on it. Other people can have their own thoughts about it, but I gave my all in that red jersey and I’ll defy anyone who says I didn’t.”
The impact of being barred from representing Wales extended beyond his rugby career, as Howarth revealed that the publicity surrounding the news also took its toll on his family.
“It hurt my mum’s side of the family,” he said.
“It dragged up things that didn’t need to be bloody dragged up. It all came out in the wash.
“The most disheartening thing for me, out of it all, was I let my mum and my grandmother down. That sits with me still today.”
Watch – Raelene Castle interview:
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments