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Support isn't universal for RFU decision to charge boozing Barbarians
The RFU decision to bring charges against the 13 Barbarians players who broke Covid-19 protocols last week has received mixed public support. England’s fixture with the Baa-Baas last Sunday was cancelled after it was revealed that members of the squad had breached health and safety guidance by leaving their team hotel bubble.
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The players will now appear before an online independent disciplinary panel charged with individual breaches of the protocols (leaving the hotel without permission or without informing organisers of their whereabouts) and providing false statements during an investigation.
Although some players have already apologised for this indiscretion, the RFU has said that it will publish the players’ names as well as the sanctions. These sanctions could be “fines and/or match bans and/or any other suitable sanction,” according to the RFU.
The Barbarians players at fault came in for a lashing after the game was cancelled and were universally chastised for their irresponsibility, but this RFU decision has not been overwhelmingly supported.
There does seem to be many on social media that agree with throwing the book at the players, albeit no one is entirely sure what that would entail. Players have, of course, been punished for off-field incidents before, but never like in these bizarre circumstances.
'Coronavirus has really put the kibosh on the nights out and socialising outside the hotel'…
Barbarians lock Tim Swinson spoke to @heagneyl ???on what the team knew they could and couldn't do, and a whole lot more…https://t.co/3HyEUL7EUN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2020
Given the financial ramifications of this cancelled game and the economic situation rugby finds itself in, the response from some is perhaps more intense than it usually would be. Having said that, there are those that feel this is a storm in a teacup which will only create more unnecessary controversy. The best course of action therefore should be to move on.
Although social media offers very little in terms of the middle ground, this does appear to be a polarising series of events. The players involved have been rebuked over the past week, and while that is clearly enough for some, others feel the punishment should be extended.
Harsh, but they need to be held to account and face the penalties. Then we should all move on, lessons learned.
— Steve Boyle (@steveboylegrfc) October 29, 2020
Good, unless they had explicit confirmation they could break the bubble then throw the book at them.
— Richie Jameson (@chefrich1980) October 29, 2020
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RFU lost £1m tv revenue due to the cancellation at a time when they need every penny to save jobs etc. Pretty big repercussions for selfish and unprofessional behaviour. They were all on £9k per player match fee too – be their team mates weren’t impressed either.
— mouldy (@willmould) October 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/anthonyjcook/status/1321854194547085314?s=20
#baabaas #rfu have some decency, regain some respect and just drop it!!! How can the England team be allowed to go home and do who knows what? where’s the bio bubble there? Interacting with family and friends, Then charge the baabaa’s players? Utterly ridiculous!!
— David Ratcliffe (@DRatcliffeIBM) October 29, 2020
Complete over reaction. They should have tested players before the game before cancelling anything.
— Gary (@GHiiggs) October 29, 2020
I’m interested to see what happens to the players charged by the RFU. Especially as England footballers who broke the bubble appear to have escaped without a charge. Seems like an over reaction to me.
— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) October 29, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
1 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
1 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
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13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
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1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
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1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
42 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
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1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
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13 Go to comments