Rob Howley Facing Allegations

It was with shock that the world received the news that Wales’s Howley is flying back home after the Welsh Rugby Union received information that he is involved in betting allegations. The question which now remains is what the future looks like for a man who has played a prominent role in his country’s rugby history, yet never managed to become a public favourite after such allegations at the age of 48.

Rob Howley has played a vital part in the history of Welsh rugby. He was captain of their national team, he was on tour with the team for a total of five times, either as a player or as a coach. During the European Cup final, he was the one who made the winning try when the Wasps were up against Toulouse. During the 2013 Six Nations title campaign, he was the one who oversaw the entire campaign leading to victory over England. Now Howley is the man which the Welsh Rugby Union flew home to prepare for his defence in front of an independent panel — having his position filled as attack coach of the Welsh team by Stephen Jones, during a World Cup Tournament where the Webb Ellis is within reach for the team.

Constant Lack of Public Popularity

The lack of sympathy in the comments on social media when the news broke of his unplanned flight back home, is apparent that the public never liked this man. Not even during his days as a player for the team has Howley managed to gain the public’s favour. Howley got noticed during his days as scrum-half playing for Bridgend before leaving them for Cardiff in 1996. During this year he won his first cap of a total 59 to his name, and it was only a mere two years later that he was in the position of the captain to the national team. During his time as captain, Graham Henry took over the role of coach for the Wales team. Then Howley was abruptly dismissed from his position, and he expressed his upset regarding the situation during a meeting with journalists hosted at his home. During his final two playing years, he was at Wasps under the hands of Shaun Edwards and Warren Gatland and this period were the most gratifying of his career. In 2008 he joined the Wales management team.

The allegations against Howley is concerned with breaching regulation 6 of World Rugby which prohibits coaches, match officials and players from betting. His early return is now to assist in this investigation while the RWC is continuing in his absence. A tournament after which Edwards and Garland are leaving Wales as heroes, while Howley will remain the black sheep within Wales’s rugby. A place where the sympathy for him is lacking and credit for his many successes and contributions are always remaining absent. Will this be the end of Howley’s career in the world of Welsh Rugby?