Rugby: Birth certificate sinks Howarth's last hope of proving Welsh-ness

By ANGELA GREGORY

WHANGAREI - Shane Howarth's step-family does not have the Welsh connection he desperately needs to save his international rugby career.

The former All Black's future with Wales may be over as he struggles to provide proof he has the ancestry needed to play for them.

The New Zealand-born fullback played 19 matches for Wales before being stood down because of doubts about his eligibility.

Birth documents indicated he failed to comply with International Rugby Board rules which required him to have Welsh bloodlines through any of his parents or grandparents.

Alluding to a "family secret" Howarth claimed to have a Cardiff-born grandfather, Thomas Williams, on his mother's side.

But this week, the Herald discovered the so-called grandfather was Howarth's stepfather, a Kaeo carpenter listed on the Maori Te Tai Tokerau electoral roll.

Mr Williams would not comment except to say Thomas was a Welsh name.

The Herald yesterday saw Mr Williams' birth certificate, which shows neither he nor his parents were born in Wales.

Thomas Ross Williams was born in Kaitaia. His father, Harold David Williams, was born in Huntly and his mother, Esther Ngawina Williams, was born in a rural area north of Kaitaia.

Mr Williams married Tangi Te Aroha Howarth in 1988, when Shane Howarth was 19 years old.

Howarth's family and his lawyer, Phil Alexander, would not comment on the latest revelations.

Mr Alexander this week said a Welsh connection existed through the step-family, and Howarth "in his heart" genuinely felt Welsh.

He did not say how far back the Welsh connection went, and would not comment on whether Howarth regarded step-family relations as sufficient.

But he said Howarth had not intended to mislead anyone.

New Zealand sports lawyer David Howman said the eligibility debate highlighted weaknesses in international rugby administration.

He said players, their agents and rugby unions could face lawsuits over the issue.

Even the International Rugby Board could face legal action if its procedures for ensuring eligibility were not adequate.

At worst, criminal issues of fraud could arise if declarations or other paperwork was signed with intent to mislead, he said.

Mr Howman said parties most likely to sue included teams which had lost games and places in competitions, and individual players who had lost out on bonuses.

The English Rugby Football Union was considering seeking sterling 220,000 ($712,000) in compensation from the Welsh Rugby Union.

Mr Howman said Welsh players who were omitted from playing for their country in favour of Howarth and fellow New Zealander Brett Sinkinson might also have a case.

Sinkinson, who played in Wales' 10-match winning run, has now admitted he was wrong in thinking he had a Welsh grandfather.

Howarth's mix-up has benefited at least one person.

Auckland comedian Mike King said yesterday he was getting plenty of mileage from the Welsh ancestry saga.

"It's a comedy gold mine, and it's going down really well."

King said he felt sorry for Howarth, but the player had landed himself in it.

"Sad days bro, but thanks for the jokes."

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Scottish Rugby Union also has an eligibility crisis after it was revealed that prop David Hilton - who has played 41 games for Scotland - is not qualified to play for the country.

Hilton is in the side because his grandfather was believed to have been born in Edinburgh. But he has now discovered his relative was born in Bristol, England.

The Scottish union is hoping Hilton can continue playing for Scotland because he made his international debut in January 1995, and the law on eligibility was not enforced until August that year.