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RPA takes swipe at EPCR's 'watered down statement' after Vunipola fan incident

By Chris Jones
Saracens number 8 Billy Vunipola. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Damian Hopley will raise serious concerns over player safety with English rugby chiefs tomorrow after Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola was confronted by a Munster supporter on the Ricoh Arena pitch after the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final.

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Hopley, CEO of Rugby Players Association which represents England’s professional players, will use tomorrow’s Professional Game Board meeting in London to call for an urgent review of stewarding levels at major matches to ensure there is no repeat of the incident when the Cup final takes place between Saracens and Leinster at St. James’ Park in Newcastle on May 11th. The PGB is made up of representatives of the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, Championship Clubs and the RPA to monitor and manage all issues to do with playing professional rugby in England.

Vunipola was the target of constant booing during Saracens 32-16 win following his social media comments about Wallaby full back Israel Folau’s claim that gay people would go to Hell. Vunipola was issued with formal warnings by the RFU and his Saracens club after “liking” Folau’s post and a Munster fan invaded the Ricoh Arena pitch to gesticulate at the England forward at the end of the semi-final.

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Watch: Munster issue statement on Vunipola incident

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Hopley told RugbyPass: “This is a massive issue and there was a pretty watered down statement from the European Cup organisers following the incident but this was a fundamental breach of security. We have seen incidents this season in football with players assaulted and who knows what may happen when an alcohol fuelled spectator who wants to be the big man on the day of a major rugby match and enters the field of play. Then we are entering dangerous territory.

“It was a pretty dark day for the sport that the breach happened at the Ricoh Arena and you would have hoped the authorities could have dealt with it in an appropriate way. We will be raising the incident with the PGB because player safety has to be paramount. The safety of the athletes who are generating all of his interest and income for the sport is vital and we cannot have anything that jeopardises their health and wellbeing.

“We have seen pressure growing in the game and I love the passion of supporters but it is important everyone takes a deep breath, remembers this is still a game and have a sense of perspective. The events at the Ricoh are a wake-up call to not sit on our laurels and to make sure that the stewarding is at a level that ensures we do not have a repeat of that incident. There is going to be an incredible final in Newcastle and we need it to be a great advert for the sport.”

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Adrian 21 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours 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.

29 Go to comments
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