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Siobhan Cattigan's family issue new statement criticising SRU

By PA
(Photo by Christopher Pike/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The family of late Scotland international Siobhan Cattigan has criticised the Scottish Rugby Union for failing to meet over their request for an independent inquiry into her death.

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Cattigan died aged 26 in November 2021 and her parents, Morven and Neil, and partner Ann Taylor believe two head injuries were the root cause. The case forms part of a wide-ranging lawsuit against rugby union’s governing bodies.

A family statement was released in the wake of the resignation of Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Steve Phillips on Sunday amid separate allegations of misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia that have rocked the sport.

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The WRU scandal came after Edinburgh-based Liberton RFC faced allegations of racism, misogyny and homophobia after cutting their women’s team.

The family’s statement read: “Given the appalling situation faced within Welsh Rugby and Liberton Rugby in Scotland, where brave women and men have stood up, shared their experiences and demanded change, there is no better opportunity for the whole Scottish Rugby community to do the same.

“Sexism, bullying and intimidation are most definitely not confided to local rugby clubs, sadly it also happens at elite levels and Scottish Rugby’s chief executive Mark Dodson and others at the top of the game can lead the way if they want to by doing the right thing for the right reason, a start would

be by allowing an independent inquiry to take place.”

The statement added: “In the 14 months since our cherished daughter’s passing we are still no further forward in seeking the answers from Scottish Rugby about the events which led to Siobhan’s tragic and avoidable passing.

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“MSP Sue Webber reached out to us and after we met, she arranged a meeting with Mr Dodson. We were hopeful questions could be posed, answers provided and arrangements for an independent inquiry that is so desperately necessary be set in motion.

“Could he not find an hour in his schedule in over two months to discuss what we firmly believe to be a totally avoidable tragedy and what no-one should want to become a stain on Scottish Rugby?

“The reason given for the second cancellation was they were too busy because of the Six Nations, but surely that would have been obvious when it was arranged. It would be too cynical to think the meeting was set up knowing there was a ready-made reason for calling it off.

“Our beautiful daughter mattered more than life to us, and she lost hers playing under the flag Mr Dodson will once again be representing in the Six Nations.

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“Continuing to ignore us and brazenly refusing to meet with an MSP is dishonouring Siobhan’s memory. She gave almost five years of her life playing for Scotland. She matters, she always has and always will and her beautiful kind heart, pure soul and incredible talent deserves to be remembered

and revered. She deserves to be honoured. We are not going away.”

The Stirling County player made 19 appearances for Scotland.

The statement finished: “It is inconceivable that Scottish Rugby would not mark the passing of a current international, and it is not too late to honour her. Recognition of her life and contribution before one of the Six Nations Games is the absolute least they can do.

“Siobhan always has and always will make us the proudest parents, our champion and hero and that we have to beg and plead for her to be acknowledged is an insult to her memory and heartbreakingly painful for us.”

The SRU stated that it was committed to setting up a meeting within the next two weeks with both the MSP’s office and its own in contact throughout in a bid to find a suitable date.

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J
Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours 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

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 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
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