Rugby Canada has announced the hiring of Rob Howley in the position of senior assistant coach for their senior men’s rugby team.
The ex-British and Irish Lion joins fellow ex-Wales captain Kingsley Jones’ coaching team on a three-year deal.
The 29-year-old was infamously banned from rugby for 18 months from 16 September, 2019, with nine suspended, for betting on matches, including Wales games.
“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Rugby Canada and begin working alongside Kingsley Jones and the other Canadian coaches,” said Howley.
“I’m excited to get to work and help prepare Canada for Rugby World Cup qualification. I am also looking forward to my first season in MLR with the Toronto Arrows.
“There is a tremendous opportunity to leverage the synergy of a professional club loaded with domestic players in an emerging league to help support the national team – it is very similar to my past experience coaching in Wales.”
JOIN THE RUCK:
10 of the Biggest scandals in rugby history
Rugby Union has had its fair share of controversial moments down the years.
From on-field misdemeanours to scandals involving disputes and even death, several incidents have divided opinion and filled thousands of column inches.
Here we look at the 10 of the other biggest controversies to have rocked the sport.
1. KAMP STAALDRAAD
It was a military-style “boot camp” organized as a “team building” exercise for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks (or Boks), during their preparation for the 2003 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Details of the camp emerged in the South African media, resulting in protest from the upper administrative levels of South African rugby.
- The team was ordered to climb into a foxhole naked and sing the national anthem while ice-cold water were being poured over their heads. During their time in the hole, recordings of God Save the Queen (used as England‘s national anthem) and the New Zealand All Blacks haka were played at full volume.
- It was confirmed that firearms were present at the camp, although reports varied as to whether they were ever pointed at anyone.
- The players were forced to crawl naked across gravel.
- They also were ordered to spend a night in the bush, during which they were to kill and cook chickens, but not eat them.