Rob Howley closing in on return to Wasps

Wasps are on the verge of adding former club scrumhalf Rob Howley to their coaching ticket.

Howley is currently serving a ban from the sport for breaches of the betting regulations. His 18-month ban, with the second 9 months suspended, would allow him to return to coaching in time for the 2020/21 season with Wasps. The suspension is backdated to the time of his initial withdrawal from the World Cup, on the 16th September 2019, meaning Howley would be free to return to the game on or after 16th June 2020.

RugbyPass understands that should Howley return, he will take up a role alongside Dai Young at the struggling Premiership giants. Despite an expensive squad, the Coventry based side are currently placed 9th in the league, having finished 8th last season.

Howley played for the Wasps for two seasons at the turn of the century and then went on to serve as an assistant coach to Warren Gatland during his tenure with Wales.

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WATCH: Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips and Wales head coach Warren Gatland at a press conference in the RIHGA Royal Hotel, Kitakyushu, Japan after assistant coach Rob Howley was sent home.

However, the controversial scrumhalf has found himself mired in scandal of late. Howley was sent home from the Rugby World Cup six days before Wales’ opening pool win against Pool D opponents Georgia, and replaced by Stephen Jones, when news of his involvement in betting rules breaches became public.

A report released by the Wales Rugby Union in late 2019 stated that the betting breaches relate to 363 bets placed on a total of 1,163 rugby union matches in total, using accounts held with Betway, William Hill and Ladbrokes.

The report also states that “a trigger for Mr Howley’s betting activity was a family tragedy involving the death of his sister”, and that two Wales players that Howley placed specific bets on were interviewed as part of their investigation.