Rugby can learn from the Naomi Osaka saga
Naomi Osaka refusing to participate in a press conference is not surprising, in fact, it’s long overdue.
The tennis star posted a statement on Twitter explaining that due to mental health concerns, she would not be taking part in post-match media at the French Open. Just days after this very personal confession, Osaka received a hefty fine of £10,000 and announced that she would be pulling out of the Grand Slam tournament completely in order to protect her mental wellbeing.
— NaomiOsaka????? (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
Too often, conferences in sport serve as opportunities for journalists to publicly pick apart an athlete’s performance to stimulate a reaction which would serve as entertainment. Because that is our job, right?
Wrong.
Our job is to build meaningful and trustworthy relationships with athletes to facilitate the communication of information from them in a balanced and impartial way.
In the rugby media, particularly in women’s rugby, we do not have so much of an issue with media obligations as most players are not committed to binding contracts. Meaning, unlike Naomi, players can refuse to speak to the press without fear of repercussion.
Mainstream media have given Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the tournament a vast amount of airtime – perhaps because they are furious that they no longer have control over the narrative. Now, as proven by Osaka, the story can be told directly to the fans via social media, cutting out the need for journalists.
With this shift in power, it begs the question – is it just the media that is at fault here? Or do the public have a part to play in this too?
Just last week England rugby star Henry Slade was ripped apart by so called “fans” for his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine. The abuse was so horrific that his club was forced to issue a statement essentially condemning the interview and the work of the journalist behind it.
Interestingly, the same accounts taking part in the public shaming of Slade were just a few weeks ago actively encouraging others to #BeKind by taking part in the social media boycott against online abuse.
How is it that fans and accounts dedicated to growing the game can make such a drastic U-turn on their stance to online abuse? My thoughts are summed up perfectly in the tweet below from Courtney Lawes:
I wonder how many people abusing sladey right now have tweeted “be kind” in the last couple of month’s ?
Guess we’re not “stamping out” online abuse atm?Thing is I’ll defend your right to say what u like, but I just want to tell u guys, u ain’t the good people u think u are.
— Courtney Lawes (@Courtney_Lawes) May 28, 2021
Press conferences are part and parcel of the commercial system of sport, many have argued that Osaka has a responsibility as a high-profile athlete to talk to the press. Some have even gone as far to say that because she is a female and the sport is still growing, she has a responsibility to the next generation to give the press what they need to facilitate coverage for the sport.
It is important, in response to the above, to draw attention back to the core reason behind Osaka’s decision; she did not want to speak to the media because she is sick.
She has mental health issues which are causing her upset and harm and she has taken steps to actively address and protect her mental wellbeing by making this decision. A decision I am certain was not taken lightly.
Looking across to the rugby world, it is often perceived that athletes can handle the media spotlight. However, you never truly know what is going on behind closed doors.
Take Joe Marler for example, anyone watching his post-match media interviews would not have registered that he was suffering with poor mental health. The rugby player has only recently opened up (to open arms) about his battle with mental health. My timeline was filled with nothing but supportive messages and love for Marler. So, why aren’t we seeing the same for Naomi Osaka?
It’s finally here, my @skytv documentary #BigBoysDontCry.
Frustration, loads of laughs and bucket loads of crying, all of which have made it an incredible experience for me.
Hope you enjoy it.
And if you don’t, that’s ok, just be kind x
Wed 12 May
Sky Sports Arena & Download pic.twitter.com/ezk4ldHYcy— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) May 10, 2021
The issue with mental wellbeing is that it is silent. You cannot see it in the same way you can a physical injury.
To truly #BeKind those working in sports media need to be looking at what they are doing day in day out. Player mental health must be taken just as seriously as physical health.
I wouldn’t be expecting to interview Jess Breach now that she is out with an ankle injury, so why would I have the right to talk to Naomi Osaka who is also out due to a different, but just as serious, medical issue?
Osaka’s actions should serve as a warning sign for all those who work in the sporting world. We must learn from this and ensure that players have access to the right level of support when they need it. But we as the media also need to be doing our bit, for example if a player does not want to give a comment or talk to you – move on, find someone else who will.
Yes, the media has a responsibility to fans and to itself to remain interesting and ultimately profitable, but when that starts to encroach on an individual’s mental health, is it worth it?
Osaka’s decision opens the floor up to a discussion surrounding how female athletes are perceived and treated within the mainstream media. Too often I have witnessed female sports stars, often at the top of their game, be scrutinised and ripped apart over the most minor of details. Personality traits that would be considered positives in the men’s game are often portrayed as negatives in the women’s game.
Also, female athletes are too often asked questions outside of a sporting context. Questions which, if posed to a male sports star would be immediately dismissed. Topics such as their love life, outfit choice and body type are regular occurrences for female athletes.
Is it any wonder that Naomi Osaka wanted to avoid this?
The media and all those working within it have the ability to shape the belief of their audience. Therefore, the way the media portrays female athletes is the way society views these women.
If anything, this has kickstarted a long-overdue conversation that needs to be had. A 23-year-old player, at the top of her game, has withdrawn from the French Open because of the media. We as a sporting community should be reflecting on this and learning from it. We now have an opportunity to review, refresh and do something different.
Naomi Osaka’s actions are the wake-up call that the sporting media needs. Every single one of us needs to reflect on our part in this, direct or indirectly.
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments