Rob Howley handed nine month suspension following betting rules breach
Wales' former assistant coach Rob Howley has been handed an eighteen-month coaching ban, nine months of which are suspended, after breaching betting rules.
The former Wales international and attack coach was sent home from the World Cup in Japan just days before Wales' opening game in Georgia.
He was forced to leave the camp in Kitakyushu amid the allegations of betting infringements.
The decision means he will be banned for a total of nine months until June 2020, unless he contravenes rules again in the next nine months from now.
If he did, he would then serve a further nine months.
Following an investigation, he was found to have breached World Rugby Anti-corruption and Betting Regulations – known as regulation 6.
The WRU said it carried out a "thorough and detailed investigation" and the former international's case was heard in front of an independent panel.
The investigation found Howley placed 363 bets on rugby union featuring 1,163 matches in total.
Of the 363 bets, the investigation found 24 were placed on “connected events” with some involving matches in which Wales was participating.
Howley was found to have placed bets on which Welsh player would score the first try in two separate internationals, including the Grand Slam decider against Ireland last March. Both players were interviewed by WRU investigators and denied any knowledge of the bets.
The panel found Mr Howley made no money from the bets and the WRU assesses he lost approximately £4,000.
It reports he accepted the charge against him "without qualification" and was "clearly remorseful and very anxious" about the effect his actions had on his family.
The 18-month suspension is backdated to the time of his initial withdrawal from the World Cup, on the 16th September 2019, meaning he would be free to return to the game on or after 16th June 2020.
The panel said its decision is that Mr Howley is suspended from "playing, training as part of any team or squad officiating, coaching, selecting, administering and/or otherwise participating or being involved in any capacity in the game of rugby".
Additionally, the panel said he "has suffered a very significant punishment in being excluded from participation in the World Cup."
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 become assistant coach January 2008 and while working as the backs coach at Cardiff Blues. He joined the national team on a full time basis in July 2008.
He also played for the British and Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001, and was part of the Lions coaching staff on their last three tours.
He had been due to leave his Wales coaching role after the World Cup, along with Gatland and fellow assistants Shaun Edwards and Robin McBryde.