Rugby: Welsh connection turns out to be 'land of my stepfathers'

By ANGELA GREGORY

KAEO - Shane Howarth's Maori stepfather has emerged as the key figure in the latest twist to the international rugby ancestry row.

Howarth has been stood down after birth documents revealed none of his parents or grandparents were born in Wales.

And if the former All Black's only Welsh connection is through a stepfather, then he has no blood ties and appears to be almost certainly ineligible under International Rugby Board rules.

Howarth, who has played 19 matches for Wales under New Zealand coach Graham Henry, has claimed his maternal grandfather was Cardiff-born Thomas Williams.

But his maternal grandmother, Hene Maaka, who had been at the centre of earlier speculation, ruled herself out of the mystery at her Kaitaia home yesterday.

While still defending her grandson's right to play for Wales, Mrs Maaka denied she had "had an affair" with a Welshman.

She said her husband, Hare Popata, was Mr Howarth's grandfather - but then added cryptically, so was "Mr Williams."

Mr Howarth's stepfather is Thomas Williams, a carpenter who is listed on the Maori electoral roll for Te Tai Tokerau.

Mr Williams, who is known by his middle name, Ross, yesterday shrugged when asked if he was Welsh. "I've got a Welsh name - Thomas."

He would not say whether his father, whom he referred to as "Harry," was Welsh, and would not comment further.

Howarth's lawyer, Phil Alexander, confirmed the player's Welsh link was through his stepfather. But he said Howarth, who played four tests for the All Blacks, never intended to mislead anyone.

"In his heart he genuinely feels Welsh."

The family were afraid the IRB's report on the matter would "compound the attack on Shane, the family, and their genealogy."

Rugby Union chairman Rob Fisher said a claim to Welsh heritage through a stepfather would stretch IRB regulations.

"The wording is quite clear - players are eligible to play for other countries if they have parents or grandparents from those countries," he said.

"While the regulations do not specify whether this includes step-parents or grandparents, there is little doubt the rule was made in reference to natural bloodlines."