Warren Gatland claims the Wales staff were”amazed” by the information of Rob Howley’s alleged breach of World Rugby’s gambling and anti-corruption regulations.
On Tuesday, Wales assistant trainer Howley has been suspended, and was sent before their tournament opener against Georgia.
He’ll be banned from the championship pending a hearing. Meanwhile Stephen Jones, who was set to take over the role in 2020, is flying out to replace him.
“We were shocked by it,” Gatland told a press conference at Kitakyushu on Wednesday.
“At the present time, all these are allegations. Rob is devastated by the allegations.”
The former Wales captain was a part of the coaching group of Gatland since 2008.
Gatland included:”It required a bit of time to sink in. It is how we turn a difficult situation into an optimistic one.
“I texted Rob to observe just how he got home and he was OK.”
The 56-year-old coach admitted:”You have to manage adversity at times, the players have really stepped down. We’ve to draw a line in the sand.
“My focus needs to be on preparing the group for the first World Cup match against Georgia. Preparations have altered. We will be focused by it. It is important we concentrate on the rugby.”
Chief executive Martyn Phillips reported in delivering Howley home, that the Welsh Rugby Union had to act fast.
“We were contacted on Wednesday last week, then contacted formally with some additional information about Friday,” explained Phillips.
“We needed to be quick and decisive. We were conscious that we behaved in ways you’d expect a regulating body to behave.
“After receptive training Monday, we sat down with Rob. He was. The procedure will carry on back in Wales.
“There’ll be an investigation. It’s a serious allegation. The analysis has not started. There are agencies to handle. My focus is about doing it right.
“We’ve made a change, and that I think we stay with that change today. Stephen is coming and he is responsible for the course.”
World Rugby also has said that it”fully supports” the Welsh Rugby Union’s”proactive strategy” within the Howley allegations.
A statement read:”World Rugby has been educated from the Welsh Rugby Union with a potential breach of World Rugby Legislation 6 (specifically gambling on football ) with a part of the union’s RWC 2019 coaching group.
“World Rugby fully affirms the WRU’s proactive solution for the matter and can confirm that the union is keeping us informed of the initial talks.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further? On an open and evolving process.”
Read more here: http://modernmusichistory.com/?p=29118
Recent Comments