Rugby World Cup 2019: Warren Gatland and Welsh squad ‘shocked’ and ‘disappointed’ by Rob Howley scandal

Warren Gatland and his Welsh players have expressed their “shock” and “disappointment” after assistant coach Rob Howley was sent home from the World Cup for an alleged betting and anti-corruption breach.

The Welsh Rugby Union said that Howley, who has been part of Gatland’s coaching team since 2008, was assisting with an investigation in relation to a potential breach of World Rugby regulation 6, specifically betting on rugby union.

WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips revealed that he was first made aware of matters last Wednesday, which was Wales’ World Cup departure day to Japan, before the investigation was officially confirmed on Friday.

“We were shocked,” Gatland on Wednesday. “At the moment, these are allegations. Obviously, Rob was devastated by the allegations. That’s all I can say.

“The Union are dealing with this, and my focus has to be on the next five days in terms of preparing the squad for the first game against Georgia.

“You have to deal with adversity at times, and it’s how you respond and react to that. This has happened.

“I must say that the players in the last 24 hours have really stepped up and they have been incredibly responsible and resilient, and sometimes that brings teams closer together.

“We have got to draw a line in the sand on this, and really focus on preparing the team for the next five days.

“We got a shock the other day, like I said, and it took a bit of time for it to sink in.

“We can’t say anything that potentially jeopardises the investigation, and we are pretty aware of that. There was concern by the coaches and the players about Rob and the welfare of Rob.”

Former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, who was due to succeed Howley as attack specialist after the tournament, is flying out to join the squad in Kitakyushu ahead of Wales’ World Cup opener against Georgia.

Wales star Dan Biggar was one of the players to speak out as he revealed that he and his teammates had been left “disappointed” by the controversy.

“Especially for people like myself and Jon (centre Jonathan Davies), who have only ever had Rob as coach in the set-up and he has given us every single cap we’ve had,” he said.

“It’s a huge disappointment, really, and shock, I suppose, but we are also adults and realise if things like this happen then we have just got to get on with it.”

Biggar added that the Welsh squad wouldn’t let the affair destabilise their efforts to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in November.

“That’s what has been great about this squad over the last year or two is that whatever has come our way – we had a couple of distractions in the last Six Nations and we went on to win our final two games and the Grand Slam – we are strong.

“We have got lots of strong characters in the squad, and hopefully that will stand us in good stead for the next five or six weeks.

“I don’t think we need a huge amount more galvanising than the prize that is at stake on November 2 (World Cup final day). That is the main aim of all of us coming here, and it still remains the same.”