When Rob Howley was sent home on the eve of the 2019 World Cup with a betting ban it sent SHOCKWAVES through Welsh rugby… now he is back where he belongs

Nearly four years to the day since his 18-month ban for breaching rugby rules was officially confirmed, Rob Howley sat in a room at the Principality Stadium on Thursday with a big smile on his face. Few could have seen this coming, least of all Howley.

He admitted as much after returning to head coach Warren Gatland's Wales appearance at the home of his country's national competition.

“This is a special place,” Howley said. That much is true. But it would take a brave man or woman to predict in 2019 that he and Gatland would now reunite with Wales.

On the eve of that year's World Cup, revelation Howley was sent home from the tournament in Japan after it emerged he had bet on the match he was involved in, shocking not only the rugby world but the sport as a whole. Wales was in Kitakyushu at the time.

The Japanese city had welcomed Gatland's side with open arms and as one of the few reporters on the ground at the time, I will never forget the moment when 15,000 locals turned up to watch the team train there and sing the Welsh national anthem. It was extraordinary stuff.

He was handed an 18-month ban from rugby union just before the 2019 World Cup after placing bets on the sport

Just over 24 hours later, the Welsh camp went from high to low as news of Howley started to trickle out. As an agency journalist, my laptop quickly went into overdrive and the following week my feet stopped touching the ground. The Howley story was everywhere.

Shock was the predominant emotion. Then Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips and chief administrator Julie Paterson flew halfway around the world to deal with the fallout.

Phillips cut an understandably weary figure as he faced the media at an emergency press conference alongside an emotional Gatland. Dan Biggar and Jonathan Davies, senior playing figures at the time, produced impressive media displays emphasizing the need for Wales to move on, and fast.

They did this to reach the semi-finals in Japan. Howley, meanwhile, traveled home.

The impact on him was enormous. Life-changing even. Gatland and Howley have always been good friends. The Wales players were also big fans of his, especially Biggar and Davies.

Howley was widely respected not only in Wales but across European rugby, having completed three British and Irish Lions tours with players from England, Ireland and Scotland.

So it was no surprise that the Wales team found it a shame that there was suddenly no longer a man who gave his life to Welsh rugby as a decorated former player, captain and coach.

On 16 December 2019, Howley received news that he would be banned from rugby for 18 months, nine of which would be suspended. He admitted guilty to breaching World Rugby rules on gambling and anti-corruption. This was, in Howley's own words, an extremely dark period.

Howley has worked his way back to Wales via a spell with Canada and is a decorated coach

In an emotional interview, he revealed how his bets came about because he couldn't come to terms with the death of his sister Karen Thomas (pictured with their father).

Later, in an emotional interview with Mail Sport's Nik Simon, he would reveal how his betting came about due to his failure to come to terms with the death of his sister Karen Thomas. He knew he had made a serious mistake and had to serve his time.

Howley deserves huge credit for getting not only his rugby career, but also his life, back on track. His wife Ceri and daughters Megan and Rebecca provided unequivocal and loving support.

Howley's wife described the aftermath as “some kind of trauma.” Howley himself could not bear to leave his house for several weeks. But slowly he returned to normality.

Once his suspension ended, he found a job – supported by World Rugby – with Canada, where he worked with the country's national team and also with their main domestic side Toronto Arrows.

In 2021 he faced Wales with Canada in Cardiff. The job, which took place during the Covid-19 years, meant a lot of travel and time away from his family in enforced bubbles.

You wondered if that was what was best for him. But it was his first step on the journey back to where he always wanted to be: Wales.

Away from prying eyes, Howley sought help from a professional psychologist. He made his feelings known and began to understand how they had led to him placing 363 bets on rugby union between 2015 and 2019. It's good to talk, as they say, and Howley reaped the benefits.

He is a good man who made a serious mistake and paid the price. But everyone makes mistakes and it was fantastic to see Howley in such a good spot on Thursday afternoon.

Gatland is 'delighted' to have Howley back in the fold after serving his ban from the sport

Welsh rugby will no doubt also benefit from his return.

His knowledge will help Gatland lead the Wales senior side at a time when there are serious problems in the country's rugby landscape.

Howley will become Gatland's assistant and will also manage the Wales and junior systems, working closely with Richard Whiffin, who has been appointed head under-20 coach.

That was the role Howley initially went for. Funnily enough, Gatland was on the interview panel, but the WRU felt they should appoint both the former scrum-half and Whiffin.

Gatland wanted Howley back this time last year, but the move was blocked by the WRU board, who felt it was not the right move at the time.

Now they have seen fit to welcome Howley back. Thursday's press conference should actually have taken place twelve months earlier. But that doesn't matter now. “He has set out in clear terms why what happened, happened,” interim WRU chief executive Nigel Walker said of Howley.

'He sought professional help. As far as we are concerned, he has been rehabilitated.

Nigel Walker, interim chief executive of the WRU, said Howley wants to use his experiences to 'ensure no one makes the mistakes he made'

“There is a commitment from Rob to use his experiences within Welsh rugby to ensure no one makes the mistakes he made. That's why we've come to the conclusion that this is the right time.”

While away from rugby, Howley enjoyed playing cricket with his local club near his home in Bridgend.

He is an energetic and committed bunch, always willing to talk rugby to journalists and his return has been welcomed from all sides.

Howley is now rightly looking forward, the past behind him. Everyone connected with Welsh rugby should be happy to have him back and will no doubt send him their best wishes.