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Former All Black stunned by animal abuse at annual event

By RugbyPass

Former All Blacks prop Steve McDowall has said he was unaware of any animal abuse before competing in the annual King’s Cup elephant polo tournament in Thailand.

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PETA Asia shared video of the elephants being subjected to beatings with bullhooks on social media.

“We weren’t aware of the abuse and as everyone had said, they were totally against the abuse,” McDowall told NZME.

“But that’s an individual that has gone out and done that. That’s not about the people in the tournament.

“Everyone at that tournament would be totally against that individual abusing that elephant and rightly so should be fired from it and that’s what they’ve done.”

McDowall was competing alongside former All Blacks Olo Brown, Robin Brooke and Charles Reichelmann.

The annual tournament’s website states that it aims to “create real and lasting change for elephants in need”.

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“The welfare of the elephants participating in the polo tournament is paramount, with strict rules in place to ensure that the pachyderms are well cared for at all times.”

The trainer responsible for the abuse at the event was fired, but PETA Asia vice-president said in a statement that the firing is not enough.

“They don’t need to fire anyone, they need to cancel the event,” Baker said.

“It is fraudulent to pretend that we are dealing with a few bad apples here when all the handlers wield bullhooks…used to hook, beat, and jab elephants in order to keep them obedient and subservient.”

McDowall told NZME that his team would still consider future involvement in the tournament.

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Bull Shark 40 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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