'It's just sad to me and smacks more of an illness than nefariousness'
Following ex-Wales scrumhalf Rob Howley’s ban for breaching gambling rules, a tonne of support has poured in for the former coach on social media.
Wales’ former attack coach was sent home only days before the Rugby World Cup when these allegations were revealed, and the Welsh Rugby Union opened an investigation.
After being found guilty of breaching World Rugby Anti-Corruption and Betting Regulations, Howley has been given a 18-month ban from coaching, with nine months suspended, backdated to the beginning of the RWC, meaning he can make a return in June 2020.
A report released by the WRU states that the betting breaches relate to 363 bets placed on a total of 1,163 rugby union matches, using accounts held with Betway, William Hill and Ladbrokes. Some of these bets involved the Wales team.
While there have been the expected jokes in light of this revelation, many have shown sympathy for the former Wales and British and Irish Lions international, and stressed that this is an addiction.
Furthermore, many feel that he should be given the help that is needed.
Former England international and columnist Brian Moore said on Twitter that this “smacks more of an illness than nefariousness,” which has been echoed by many other fans.
https://twitter.com/brianmoore666/status/1206555152821489668?s=20
https://twitter.com/conordmaher/status/1206583265257234433?s=20
https://twitter.com/UncleFatsoPhil/status/1206559779855962112?s=20
It would be so easy to judge rob or take the piss but he is just a person the same as all of us and we could all fall prey to an addiction so no critisism here
— phil barrance (@philbarrance) December 16, 2019
Although many agree that Howley should have been punished for such an offence, there has also been a lot of compassion, particularly as the WRU report states that “a trigger for Mr Howley’s gambling activity was a family tragedy involving the death of his sister.”
https://twitter.com/patrickajr1/status/1206552301042839552?s=20
https://twitter.com/nicksjj/status/1206561123710984192?s=20
Sure Rob Howley will be the butt of many jokes in the coming days but nothing funny about gambling addiction. Had a very close friend with similar issues and it ruins reputations and relationships. He's getting help from a consultant psychologist. Overwhelming feeling is sadness
— Owain Jones (@OwainJTJones) December 16, 2019
However, there are still some who feel that this ban is too lenient, and does not serve as a deterrent, particularly when comparing the level of punishment in the game of football. There has also been criticism for the fact that he used the phone issued by Wales to make the bets, which has been deemed careless.
While there are fears that Howley’s career and reputation are at risk, some feel that he will have plenty of job offers come 2020. Former Wales fullback Lee Byrne, who had a longstanding feud with the coach, even suggested he will be back and in contention to join up with Warren Gatland with the British and Irish Lions.
Why are people feeling sorry for Rob Howley ? 9 months is a great result he will be back just in time for the lions.🤔
— Lee Byrne (@byrney_15) December 16, 2019
Howley was replaced by Stephen Jones at the RWC, who was set to replace him anyway as part of new coach Wayne Pivac’s coaching team. After being part of the Wales coaching team for twelve years, this would have been a bitter end to his time, but there is confidence he can bounce back.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar 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.
11 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.
61 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.
8 Go to comments