Has money started to infect in Rugby?

[R1Geezer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my _club/harlequins/8191371.stm
As a Rugby player and supporter, I'm, utterly disgusted by this, are we turning into a soccer style cheat if you can approach? Is this the start of things to come? How can the sport clean this up going forward?

[Prudentia]

nite zig zag.

[R1Geezer]

finally I manage to extract a comment about the question, not a great one but hey hopes were never high! Just try having a go at the question next time, you're not very good at the comedy stuff.

[Prudentia]

you're not very good at anything, nite nite numpty

[R1Geezer]

I've got all night b1tch, I tried nice.

[Prudentia]

then you're on your own numpty

[R1Geezer]

OK Brainless b1tch.

[slinkycat]

Back to the original question R1, I hope not, would be really sad if rugby players became like high profile football players, although hubby (who played local rugby for years) thinks that it is going that way:-(

[R1Geezer]

well thanks for trying to rescue this thread!

[R1Geezer]

I know about all those but really I was focusing on the whole ne dimension of this faked bl00d injury in an actual game. The other stuff is peripheral things. I'm more referring to on the pitch stuff, I don't recall an incident like this before.

[slinkycat]

Thats ok! . Feel quite strongly about it, as I said hubby used to play, both sons followed him (after having a stint at football!) and one son is still playing. I've never been sporty myself, but Rugby kind of captured me, with the respect for the ref, and the other players, and ok there might be some, shall we say, bending of the rules during the game, but nothing like on your link, so lets hope that sort of thing doesn't become the norm

[slinkycat]

I am so slow posting! stand by what I said anyway, still think its an honourable game and maybe the international players should be reminded of that

[Gromit]

Od dear, the Geezer really believes that Gentleman's Game twaddle.

Rugby has long been infected with drugs, thuggery and cheating for a long time. But because it is a minor sport, it is only reported on page 57 and not the front pages.

Take the case of the Bath Trio, who went out on a public drink and drug binge, refused all attempts by their club and the authorities to be coaxed to take drug tests (apparently they took a voluntary test 5 weeks later).

The bath `Trio were banned for 6 months, being guilty of...

"... unreasonably refusing to be tested and of leaving the club waiting on the two days when tests were requested by leaving the city, ignoring text messages and switching off their mobiles.

None of that was on the front pages of the newspapers. Contrast that with Rio Ferdinand. All over the papers for weeks, 8 month ban and �50,000 fine.

So, in answer to your question, How can the sport clean this up going forward? The best way is not to pretend the sport is anymore clean and gentlemanly than any other.

[R1Geezer]

Gromit, all along I've said I'm talking about the specific practice of cheating in an actual game. I'm not talking about what happens off the pitch.

BGB for irrelevant b0llux!

[Gromit]

You see deliberate collapsing the scrum all the time. It is just the same as driving for a free kick in football. Collapsing the scrum is cheating but it is nothing new.

[Gromit]

Remember Leicester's infamous 2002 Heineken Cup win?

Leicester had already cheated in the semi final by conning the referee at a scrum. Worse came in the final against Munster, They deliberately knocked away a Munster put-in in the dying moments of the match, denying a possible try-scoring opportunity.

Referee Joel Jutge missed the infringement and seconds later blew the final whistle on a 15-9 Leicester win.

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s103/st21055. php

[R1Geezer]

collapsing the scrum and all the ings you describe are punishable by the referee, it is catered for in the laws of the game. Can you not see the importandf distinction here? this is a quantum leap in deception than is out of the control of the laws of the game on the pitch its completely different to other infringments that may be termed gamesmanship, ie optimising the laws of the game.

[filthiestfis]

What did Prudentia say that was so wrong huh? Is this person not entitled to have an opinion that differs from yoursR1Geezer? Judging by the language that you use R1Geezer I doubt that it is Prudentia who needs to be using her/his brain better.

[R1Geezer]

read the whole thread then ask me again if you still don't get it!