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La deuxième chance de Rob Howley au Pays de Galles
Pas rancunière, la fédération galloise de rugby, la WRU, a annoncé jeudi 14 décembre que Rob Howley sera de retour avec l’équipe du Pays de Galles pour le Tournoi des Six Nations 2024. Auparavant, il aura été missionné avec l’équipe U20 du Pays de Galles, qui se prépare pour sa propre campagne du Tournoi.
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L’un des entraîneurs les plus décorés du monde, qui a mené le Pays de Galles au titre de champion du Six Nations 2013, et qui est triple vainqueur du Grand Chelem (2008 et 2012, 2019) et demi-finaliste de la Coupe Monde de Rugby (2011) en tant qu’entraîneur adjoint de Warren Gatland, retrouve un nouveau rôle au sein de la Fédération galloise de rugby.
Il avait parié sur 1 163 matchs au cours de 45 mois
Son nom avait pourtant fait la une des faits divers il y a quelques années après avoir été reconnu coupable d’avoir eu recours à une activité illicite de paris sportifs sur des matchs « impliquant les équipes nationales galloises en violation du règlement six de World Rugby », qui porte sur la corruption et les paris.
L’affaire avait fait grand bruit en pleine Coupe du Monde de Rugby au Japon en 2019 lorsque Rob Howley avait été invité à rentrer chez lui en urgence le 5 octobre.
La fédération galloise avait alors découvert que le technicien était un adepte des paris sportifs, après en avoir placés 364 entre le 13 novembre 2015 et le 7 septembre 2019, soit sur 1 163 matchs au total. Rob Howley avait tout de suite reconnu les faits qui lui étaient reprochés et n’avait pas cherché à se disculper.
Mauvais parieur, l’ancien entraîneur de l’attaque du Pays de Galles et des Lions ne s’étaient pas enrichis pour autant, l’investigation démontrant ainsi qu’il avait même perdu jusqu’à 4 000£ (4 600 €).
Risquant jusqu’à cinq ans de suspension de toute activité rugbystique, Howley avait finalement été condamné en décembre 2019 à une suspension de 18 mois, dont la moitié avec sursis grâce à de nombreuses marques de soutien de son entourage professionnel, entre autres.
Il avait relancé sa carrière au Canada
En septembre 2020, il avait relancé sa carrière de l’autre côté de l’Atlantique en s’engageant pour trois ans avec Rugby Canada. Entraîneur adjoint de l’équipe nationale auprès de Kingsley Jones pour envisager une participation – qui n’a jamais eu lieu – à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023, il servait également comme consultant pour les Toronto Arrows, la seule équipe du Canada dans la Major League Rugby, équipe qui a cessé toute activité en novembre 2023.
Jeudi 14 décembre 2023, la fédération galloise l’a en quelque sorte réhabilité en l’intégrant dans le staff de son ancien collègue Warren Gatland en tant qu’entraîneur technique du Pays de Galles, au côté de Mike Forshaw (défense), Jonathan Humphreys (avants), Neil Jenkins (skills) et Alex King (attaque).
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Mais dans son nouveau rôle, Howley aura également une responsabilité particulière pour les filières masculine et masculine, travaillant en étroite collaboration avec le nouvel entraîneur en chef des moins de 20 ans – officialisé le même jour – Richard Whiffin.
« J’ai l’impression que le moment est venu et j’ai vraiment hâte de revenir au bercail avec le Pays de Galles », a déclaré l’ancien capitaine du Pays de Galles.
« Je suis reconnaissant à tous les acteurs du rugby gallois pour leur reconnaissance et leur confiance en moi, une confiance que j’ai l’intention de leur rendre au mieux de mes capacités.
« L’opportunité de travailler avec les U20 et d’autres équipes de formation et de les aider à se développer et à se préparer aux défis du rugby international est particulièrement excitante.
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« J’ai traversé une période extrêmement difficile de ma vie, en parler et me confier m’a permis d’aller de l’avant. Je serai plus qu’heureux de partager mon expérience avec d’autres personnes qui pourraient vivre des moments difficiles et je suis reconnaissant à tous ceux qui m’entourent et qui m’ont soutenu dans ces moments-là. »
Il a la confiance de sa tutelle
Warren Gatland est ravi d’accueillir Howley, qui a également entraîné à ses côtés lors de trois tournées des British and Irish Lions (2009, 2013, 2017).
« Rob est l’un des entraîneurs gallois les plus performants et les plus expérimentés sur la scène internationale en ce moment », a déclaré Gatland, ravi de pouvoir compter sur un technicien de talent dans son staff, après avoir enregistré le départ de son adjoint Jonathan Thomas.
« Lorsque Rob a quitté le Pays de Galles, nous avons perdu une grande partie de notre patrimoine intellectuel, de notre connaissance du rugby au Pays de Galles et de la scène internationale.
« Je suis ravi de l’accueillir à nouveau dans ce nouveau rôle. Le fait de pouvoir relier de manière transparente les U20 et les équipes de formation à notre stratégie et à notre planification pour la sélection nationale va profiter à tous les secteurs du rugby, ce qui inclut nos quatre équipes régionales et leurs académies. »
Rob Howley va se mettre immédiatement au travail dans son nouveau rôle centré sur la formation et rejoindra Richard Whiffin lors d’un stage des U20 en Écosse la semaine prochaine et pour des matchs de préparation au cours de la nouvelle année, avant le Tournoi des Six Nations.
« Le type de rapprochement que nous espérons créer profitera à tout le monde, des académies régionales à la sélection nationale, mais surtout aux joueurs eux-mêmes », a-t-il insisté.
« C’est un scénario idéal pour les U20 et le reste de la filière de pouvoir travailler en tandem avec l’équipe senior et j’ai vraiment hâte de commencer dans ce nouveau rôle. »
Comments on RugbyPass
Fox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
5 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe guy had just beasted himself in a scrum and the blood hadn't yet returned to his head when he was pushed into a team mate. He took his weight off his left foot precisely at the moment he was shoved and dropped to the floor when seemingly trying to avoid stepping on Hyron Andrews’ foot. I don't think he was trying to milk a penalty, I think he was knackered but still switched on enough to avoid planting 120kgs on the dorsum of his second row’s foot. To effectively “police” such incidents with a (noble) view to eradicating play acting in rugby, yet more video would need to be reviewed in real time, which is not in the interest of the game as a sporting spectacle. I would far rather see Farrell penalised for interfering with the refereeing of the game. Perhaps he was right to be frustrated, he was much closer to the action than the only camera angle I've seen, however his vocal objection to Rodd’s falling over doesn't legitimately fall into the captain's role as the mouthpiece of his team - he should have kept his frustration to himself, that's one of the pillars of rugby union. I appreciate that he was within his rights to communicate with the referee as captain but he didn't do this, he moaned and attempted to sway the decision by directing his complaint to the player rather than the ref. Rugby needs to look closely at the message it wants to send to young players and amateur grassroots rugby. The best way to do this would be to apply the laws as they are written and edit them where the written laws no longer apply. If this means deleting laws such as ‘the put in to the scrum must be straight”, so be it. Likewise, if it is no longer necessary to respect the referee’s decision without questioning it or pre-emptively attempting to sway it (including by diving or by shouting and gesticulating) then this behaviour should be embraced (and commercialised). Otherwise any reference to respecting the referee should be deleted from the laws. You have to start somewhere to maintain the values of rugby and the best place to start would be giving a penalty and a warning against the offending player, followed by a yellow card the next time. People like Farrell would rapidly learn to keep quiet and let their skills do the talking.
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
5 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
7 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
33 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
33 Go to commentsJust what you want your prop doing 😂
2 Go to commentsEveryone needs to have a bit of ball player in them Nick and second phase but forwards and backs are still different coz of where you stick your head most of the time. Pocock and tizzano were 12s right up to the edge of seniors. Pocock was 12 to quades 10 then pocock was at the force At 17 year’s old or so. Hamish Stewart was apparently was a junior 7. Don’t know when he switched but apparently he was crons 10 in the Oz 20s. A mistake too often made is playing a guy like taquele nairavuro at wing instead of as a power 8. On rugby tours we often had a spare 7 playing crash 12 coz the regular 12 stayed home. Often had a spare 7 playing on a wing too.
5 Go to commentsyikes - what a load of crap Gallan. Interesting until after your 1st paragraph, but then again not worth anyone’s time responding to such pointless analysis and of course your dumbass opinions.
33 Go to commentsOutside of their national camp, club teams seem to take a tighter stance on doping. Think that explains it really.
33 Go to commentsThanks Nick Ive always thought that there should be a few more innovative attempts at players moving from backs to forwards and vice versa. Samu was one, as was Jim Williams last century. Cole certainly could run like a back, as can Lonergan from the Brumbies. I think that it’s going to become hard again for hookers though as front rowers seem to be getting bigger and bigger, and the guys have to look after their spines as well as (in Australia) their achilles! I always thought that Folau should have been tried in the lineout…. I think the same for Vunavalu…if he lasts any longer. Movement between positions is much more common in League, mainly because the size requirements between backs and forwards are not as pronounced. Hookers and halfbacks interchanging and second rowers and centres as well. The great Cameron Smith was effectively a hybrid hooker/halfback, being able to play both positions…sometimes it seemed simultaneously! For now, it seems like McReith and before him Hooper are the standouts, though Cale could be anything. John Eals did a few “back” type things mind you, including running and kicking. As for Jones, I don't credit him as anything (in an Australian context) other than a speaker of a million throw away lines, with the occasional one being picked up! Sorry
5 Go to commentsHe's Big in Japan
2 Go to comments“England are set to lose some of their best ever players at the end of the season with the mass departure to France”… Really? Best ever? What a joke of an opening line. The england players leaving for France are… Sinckler, Ludlum, Tuilagi… that’s the list of players England are losing at the end of this season to France. All 3 are fringe players at best these days. Manu is the only one you could fathom debating being one of “their best ever players” and even that debate would be shut down pretty quickly. Pathetic excuse for journalism this. Not grounded in reality.
3 Go to commentsYep. The insanity of the decision of trying to outspend RL for outside backs just looks more and more stupid as time goes on and talented players either bully us into paying overs to keep them (Jorgensen) or simply leave as Uncle Nick comes calling (Nawaqanitawase).
20 Go to commentsInteresting that you pick Amatosero, John. I would agree with your choice. He could well be capped this year at some point. At only 21 years of age, he has a lot of experience at a high level from his time at Clermont. I’m surprised he did not remain there for longer, as last year he was really starting to move, with 14 games, six starts, well up from the previous year, 7 games, only 2 starts. Have liked what is doing with the Waratahs this year. Not an easy situation for any player there, with the poor results.
3 Go to commentsNed me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
4 Go to comments