In a brilliant move, World Rugby apparently bans writing on wrist tape
Forget concussions, financial troubles in Pacific Island rugby and figuring out how to pick a World Cup host without pissing everyone off – World Rugby have shown clearly where their priorities are by apparently banning players writing on the tape on their arms.
Yes, that massive problem in rugby that definitely needed solving – players putting personal messages on their wrist tape – has seemingly been dealt with (somewhat) swiftly by the highest ruling body in the game, according to tweets by players competing in the opening round of the World Sevens Series in Dubai. Because we all remember the massive controversies that wrist tape has caused like…hmmm, what are they again?
It's sad that in today's world we can't even write a personal message on our OWN WRISTS when we play.
My daughter's initials on my wrists means so much to me AND my daughters!
I would like to know what msgs @WorldRugby saw on wrists that made them come to this decision??#TL #RR— Niall Williams (@nizzlewilliams) November 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/jen_kish/status/935086055967154176
Well, there’s all the players that put names of their kids and other relatives on their arms, so they can show the pride they have in their families. Can’t have that. Now those poor kids won’t have the annoying sight of their dad or uncle showing the whole world what their name is! We’re sure they’re all very relieved.
Then there’s the players that want to show their religious devotion, can’t have that either. Except perhaps when teams get together to pray at the end of a game, which the RFU was happy to promote as a fantastically respectful moment. I mean, there’s clearly a massive difference between the two, right?
? England v Samoa in numbers | The key stats and facts from Saturday's Test.
Inside England's victory: https://t.co/MI4oO1GU0A pic.twitter.com/UdHfgy3RUE
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 26, 2017
Oh wait. There was one ‘real’ reason, when then-Maori and now full All Black Kane Hames wore a wristband to show solidarity with First Nation Americans protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. NZ Rugby weren’t happy with that at all, making Hames apologise for opposing a move by the US government that had been condemned worldwide*.
That was on last season’s Maori All Black tour, so it’s clearly an issue that World Rugby took very seriously, having over 12 months to deliberate on the appropriate course of action. Thankfully they’ve clamped down hard with this wise and decisive move.
Of course, it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it’s a tradition long associated with Polynesian players and the fact that they might use it as a platform to voice their views on perceived injustices in revenue sharing. Not at all.
Bravo, World Rugby. We look forward to you tackling more pressing issues, like players pulling up their socks and taking the field clean shaven, in the near future.
*With NZ Rugby’s help in eliminating dissent, the Trump administration finished the Dakota Access Pipeline. During its construction, almost 500 protesters were arrested.
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments