URC branded 'irresponsible' over damaging video mocking concussion
Long-serving Cardiff winger Aled Summerhill has called out the United Rugby Championship (URC) after they published a video on social media mocking the concussion he recently sustained when playing away to the Lions in South Africa. The Welsh region were beaten 37-20 in Johannesburg on March 13 in an encounter that left the 27-year-old lying prone on the ground following an attempted tackle on Edwill van der Merwe.
Ahead of this weekend’s latest round of URC matches, the tournament’s social media team published a video of the tackle on TikTok that was titled “Goodnight” with a “zzzz” inputted on the footage after Summerhill fell to the ground with a concussion following the collision.
Summerhill called out the damning video on Twitter, writing: “Really didn’t think head injuries were something to joke about with all that’s going on with it within the sport, there we are then @URCOfficial.”
His tweet ignited a social media storm in which the URC were roundly condemned for its insensitivity. URC CEO Martin Anayi replied: “This should NEVER have gone up, we are investigating now with our social media agency – it has been removed – we take player safety very seriously indeed.”
The URC, meanwhile, tweeted two replies to Summerhill. “We’d like to apologise unreservedly to Aled, his family & club for this post. Injuries are not to be made light of & our oversight processes around publishing wasn’t good enough. The original post has been removed & we will take immediate action ensuring this never occurs again.”
We'd like to apologise unreservedly to Aled, his family & club for this post. Injuries are not to be made light of & our oversight processes around publishing wasn't good enough. The original post has been removed & we will take immediate action ensuring this never occurs again.
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 23, 2022
The second tweet apologising to the Cardiff player read: “We recognise that the content was not in line with our values. Apologies to Aled again and we hope you have a speedy recovery!” Progressive Rugby, the concussion awareness group, called the original post irresponsible and damaging. “150,000+ followers and a platform to thrill, educate and grow the game. And they choose to post this? Irresponsible and damaging.”
Meanwhile, Rob Williams summed up the mood of rugby fans on Twitter who replied to the post that Summerhill published calling out the URC over its terrible joke about concussion. “That is utterly appalling. Who could possibly judge that as in any way appropriate? Hey parents, encourage your kids to play this sport where being knocked unconscious is trivialised!”
The controversy arose on the same day that the International Rugby Players’ union released a statement confirming they had queried World Rugby and the Six Nations about high-profile concussion incidents that took place during the championship.
Comments on RugbyPass
The GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
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