TOKYO: Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has been sent home from the Rugby World Cup in Japan over a potential breach of betting rules.
The former Wales captain, who has been part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team since 2008, has left the squad’s base in Japan.
The Welsh Rugby Union says “Howley has returned to Wales to assist with an investigation in relation to a potential breach of World Rugby regulation 6, specifically betting on rugby union. The decision was taken to act immediately in light of recent information passed to the WRU.”
Wales’ opening World Cup game is against Georgia on Monday.
The WRU says Howley has “co-operated fully with our initial discussions” but adds that “if required, an independent panel will be appointed to hear the case.”
Howley had been due to leave his Wales coaching role after the World Cup, along with Gatland and fellow assistants Shaun Edwards and Robin McBryde.
Howley enjoyed a glittering playing career, winning 59 caps for Wales and captaining his country on 22 occasions, while also helping Wasps to be crowned European champions in 2004.
He played for the British and Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001, and was part of the Lions coaching staff on their last three tours.
Wales assistant rugby coach sent home over betting case
Wales assistant rugby coach sent home over betting case
- Rob Howley, who has been part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team since 2008, has left the squad’s base in Japan
- Howley enjoyed a glittering playing career, winning 59 caps for Wales and captaining his country on 22 occasions
Pakistan cruise past Sri Lanka in T20I opener
- Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets as Shadab Khan takes two wickets, Sahibzada Farhan smashes 50
- Pakistan cricket team will play all their upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures in Sri Lanka next month
DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Pakistan underlined their credentials as serious contenders for the upcoming T20 World Cup with a commanding six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the three-game series in Dambulla on Wednesday.
Touted as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India, the series holds added significance for Pakistan, who will play all their tournament matches on the island owing to political tensions with their nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan ticked most boxes on the night, first bottling Sri Lanka up for a modest 128 and then knocking off the target with 20 deliveries to spare, barely breaking sweat.
The game tilted decisively in Pakistan’s favor early, with Shadab Khan ripping the heart out of the Sri Lankan innings by striking twice in his very first over.
The leg-spinner, returning after shoulder surgery and playing his first match for Pakistan since June last year, marked his comeback with a telling spell.
“When you are coming back from injury it is tough. You have to start from zero but the surface was helping me. We have our eyes on the World Cup. With all our games being played here in Sri Lanka, this is a very good series for us,” player-of-the-match Shadab said.
Abrar Ahmed complemented Shadab neatly, finishing with 3-25, while left-arm quick Salman Mirza bowled with fire, mopping up the tail with figures of 3-18 as Sri Lanka were bowled out with four balls unused.
During the run chase, openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan flew out of the blocks, racing to 50 in just 25 balls.
Nuwan Thushara bore the brunt of the assault, conceding 31 runs in his first two overs as Pakistan seized early control.
Farhan anchored the chase with a fluent 51 off 36 balls, peppered with four fours and two sixes — his eighth T20I half-century — as Pakistan cruised home without alarm.
For Sri Lanka, the defeat compounds a turbulent lead-up to the series that saw captain Charith Asalanka axed, chairman of selectors Upul Tharanga shown the door and the coaching staff reshuffled.
With little time to catch their breath, the hosts face a swift rethink ahead of the second match on Friday at the same venue.
“We didn’t get a good start and lost too many wickets. That is an issue we need to address. We recovered well and should have got over 150, but we lost quick wickets,” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said.
