Cue firestorm

[p/d]

Two weeks is the surprise result to no one. Good for World Rugby to finally get tough on discipline, okay they've let drugs (including Peds), violent conduct on the field, high profile players assaulting woman in their lives, financial mismanagement, plenty of vile language go, and presided over a closed shop that skews the finances massively against the interests of growing the game - but when it came to a gypsy boy they stood up to be counted.

Sniffed out an opportunity to add a few quid to the coffers.

Could have just made Marler change his summer holiday plans for a week's camping in the New Forest

[Digby]

The right thing to do would have been and would be to be rather more serious about the inclusiveness of the game from a long time back, and if wanted to be rather more serious about the level of respect shown on the pitch period. How doing something as trivial as this as few weeks back to make this current mess go away is helpful I don't know.

[Puja]

The right thing to do would have been and would be to be rather more serious about the inclusiveness of the game from a long time back, and if wanted to be rather more serious about the level of respect shown on the pitch period. How doing something as trivial as this as few weeks back to make this current mess go away is helpful I don't know.

Okay - it would've made it far less of an issue than it has been if they'd just given him the correct ban, fine and ticking off in the first place, instead of spending several weeks giving the impression that rugby doesn't give a sh*t.

Puja

[Banquo]

Make of this what you will....

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lee ... ?utm_id=98

[p/d]

Make of this what you will....

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lee ... ?utm_id=98

Out of interest, where does the £20k go?

[Banquo]

Make of this what you will....

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lee ... ?utm_id=98

Out of interest, where does the £20k go?

Panama

[Puja]

Make of this what you will....

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lee ... ?utm_id=98

Out of interest, where does the £20k go?

An equality charity in the UK, apparently.

Puja

[Digby]

The right thing to do would have been and would be to be rather more serious about the inclusiveness of the game from a long time back, and if wanted to be rather more serious about the level of respect shown on the pitch period. How doing something as trivial as this as few weeks back to make this current mess go away is helpful I don't know.

Okay - it would've made it far less of an issue than it has been if they'd just given him the correct ban, fine and ticking off in the first place, instead of spending several weeks giving the impression that rugby doesn't give a sh*t.

Puja

Broadly I doubt rugby does care, nor most fans. At least I'm yet to meet someone who follows or is inside the game that cares about the gypsies or actually thinks what's happened that important, and I doubt this has moved opinions on the subject. Instead we've had the blazers do what they do, pick on a largely irrelevant issue to tinker on the fringes and then lie to themselves they're doing useful things whilst ignoring the bigger problems.

[Mellsblue]

Make of this what you will....

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lee ... ?utm_id=98

Out of interest, where does the £20k go?

Panama

[skidger]

Two weeks is the surprise result to no one. Good for World Rugby to finally get tough on discipline, okay they've let drugs (including Peds), violent conduct on the field, high profile players assaulting woman in their lives, financial mismanagement, plenty of vile language go, and presided over a closed shop that skews the finances massively against the interests of growing the game - but when it came to a gypsy boy they stood up to be counted.

Sniffed out an opportunity to add a few quid to the coffers.

Could have just made Marler change his summer holiday plans for a week's camping in the New Forest

Will you be spending the summer at your retreat in the Gorbals?

[WaspInWales]

Broadly I doubt rugby does care, nor most fans. At least I'm yet to meet someone who follows or is inside the game that cares about the gypsies or actually thinks what's happened that important, and I doubt this has moved opinions on the subject. Instead we've had the blazers do what they do, pick on a largely irrelevant issue to tinker on the fringes and then lie to themselves they're doing useful things whilst ignoring the bigger problems.

Billy Joe Saunders says he isn't going to watch England play rugby again.

I really hope Marler's punishment makes Saunders reconsider.

[skidger]

Broadly I doubt rugby does care, nor most fans. At least I'm yet to meet someone who follows or is inside the game that cares about the gypsies or actually thinks what's happened that important, and I doubt this has moved opinions on the subject. Instead we've had the blazers do what they do, pick on a largely irrelevant issue to tinker on the fringes and then lie to themselves they're doing useful things whilst ignoring the bigger problems.

Billy Joe Saunders says he isn't going to watch England play rugby again.

I really hope Marler's punishment makes Saunders reconsider.

Poor Billy Joe. Just when we have gone from being utter shite to average/solid.

[Digby]

Broadly I doubt rugby does care, nor most fans. At least I'm yet to meet someone who follows or is inside the game that cares about the gypsies or actually thinks what's happened that important, and I doubt this has moved opinions on the subject. Instead we've had the blazers do what they do, pick on a largely irrelevant issue to tinker on the fringes and then lie to themselves they're doing useful things whilst ignoring the bigger problems.

Billy Joe Saunders says he isn't going to watch England play rugby again.

I really hope Marler's punishment makes Saunders reconsider.

Who is Billy Joe Saunders?

And was he impressed with the ban for Ashton whilst Wilson and Kruis get their cases dismissed? And does he think WR should step in over Wilson and Bitey McBite Face?

[Puja]

And was he impressed with the ban for Ashton whilst Wilson and Kruis get their cases dismissed? And does he think WR should step in over Wilson and Bitey McBite Face?

What the hell is that decision? Kruis clearly should never have been cited, but Wilson was absolutely dead-to-rights. How on earth has Ashton got 10 weeks for something that was technically hands-in-eyes but with no actual danger to the player, while Wilson gets away scot-free with an actual gouge?!

Puja

[WaspInWales]

Who is Billy Joe Saunders?

And was he impressed with the ban for Ashton whilst Wilson and Kruis get their cases dismissed? And does he think WR should step in over Wilson and Bitey McBite Face?

He's the current WBO middleweight champion who hails from a traveller background.

I'm not sure how he feels about Ashton, Wilson and Kruis but he and Gypsy King Fury are both disgusted at Marler. They spoke on the phone about it.

[WaspInWales]

Poor Billy Joe. Just when we have gone from being utter shite to average/solid.

Don't worry skidger, we'll win him back!

[skidger]

Poor Billy Joe. Just when we have gone from being utter shite to average/solid.

Don't worry skidger, we'll win him back!

I wont sleep a wink till he watches England again.

[WaspInWales]

I wont sleep a wink till he watches England again.

We're not playing till the end of May. That's 7+ weeks without sleep.

Who's gonna crack first? Skidger or BJ Saunders?

May pop down Paddy Power.

[skidger]

I wont sleep a wink till he watches England again.

We're not playing till the end of May. That's 7+ weeks without sleep.

Who's gonna crack first? Skidger or BJ Saunders?

May pop down Paddy Power.

Billy Joe has always underwhelmed me as a pro. I shall win the battle of the wills.

[Which Tyler]

Right decision, several weeks too late. This is basically what the 6N should have done in the first place and made the whole mess go away.

Exactly this, 2 weeks is exactly what the 6N should have given him at the time.
Entry level of 4 weeks; 50% (maximum) reduction for immediate apology, remorse, etc etc.

IMO IRB should also discipline the 6N for... something - probably disrepute. The entire affair from the official capacity has been a farce. Hearing behind closed doors, no information about who was on the panel, no information about the rationale for the decision; just head buried in the sand, obfuscation and denial.

What the hell is that decision? Kruis clearly should never have been cited, but Wilson was absolutely dead-to-rights. How on earth has Ashton got 10 weeks for something that was technically hands-in-eyes but with no actual danger to the player, while Wilson gets away scot-free with an actual gouge?!

Kruis shouldn't have been cited? how do you work that one out? an allegation of biting - made to the ref at the time should just be roundly ignored?
Wilson of course should be stood down for the rest of the season, and well into pre-season.

[Which Tyler]

Broadly I doubt rugby does care, nor most fans. At least I'm yet to meet someone who follows or is inside the game that cares about the gypsies or actually thinks what's happened that important, and I doubt this has moved opinions on the subject. Instead we've had the blazers do what they do, pick on a largely irrelevant issue to tinker on the fringes and then lie to themselves they're doing useful things whilst ignoring the bigger problems.

Well, you're flat out wrong (par for the course in this debacle).
Plenty of evidence on these boards of people changing their opinions on the subject.

As for the feelings of rugby fans as a whole - based on RR there are 2 posters who've considered it "largely irrelevant" out of a good 30-40 who's commented; many of those 30-40 people have only really thought about this issue (as purports to gypsies) as a direct result of this case, and have re-evaluated their position on the matter. This is about par for the course on the sportsnetwork sites, and various other rugby forums I've looked in on.

In the real world, I've yet to meet a rugby fan who considers the whole thing largely irrelevant, or anything other than a farse that cut-and-dried racial abuse is picked up no the ref's mic, broadcast to millions, and covered up. I've met many who didn't know it was racial abuse at the time; who's personal views go with "the law's an ass"; but none who think it shouldn't have had a proper, accountable hearing.

[skidger]

Agreed. It was very thick of him to say it and he should have been punished at the time. But i think he should miss two internationals myself.

[Mr Mwenda]

As for the feelings of rugby fans as a whole - based on RR there are 2 posters who've considered it "largely irrelevant" out of a good 30-40 who's commented; many of those 30-40 people have only really thought about this issue (as purports to gypsies) as a direct result of this case, and have re-evaluated their position on the matter. This is about par for the course on the sportsnetwork sites, and various other rugby forums I've looked in on.

Good post. I'd also add that there seem to be one or two people who have taken to bringing this story into every single thread. It's weird.

[Digby]

Broadly I doubt rugby does care, nor most fans. At least I'm yet to meet someone who follows or is inside the game that cares about the gypsies or actually thinks what's happened that important, and I doubt this has moved opinions on the subject. Instead we've had the blazers do what they do, pick on a largely irrelevant issue to tinker on the fringes and then lie to themselves they're doing useful things whilst ignoring the bigger problems.

Well, you're flat out wrong (par for the course in this debacle).
Plenty of evidence on these boards of people changing their opinions on the subject.

As for the feelings of rugby fans as a whole - based on RR there are 2 posters who've considered it "largely irrelevant" out of a good 30-40 who's commented; many of those 30-40 people have only really thought about this issue (as purports to gypsies) as a direct result of this case, and have re-evaluated their position on the matter. This is about par for the course on the sportsnetwork sites, and various other rugby forums I've looked in on.

In the real world, I've yet to meet a rugby fan who considers the whole thing largely irrelevant, or anything other than a farse that cut-and-dried racial abuse is picked up no the ref's mic, broadcast to millions, and covered up. I've met many who didn't know it was racial abuse at the time; who's personal views go with "the law's an ass"; but none who think it shouldn't have had a proper, accountable hearing.

The law's an ass sounds about right for most peoples response. But why would most people go from there to he should be sanctioned rather than the law should be ideally changed or at worst ignored? Do people normally think we'll that's a daft ruling but now it's there we'd best uphold it?

And anyway this isn't connected to UK law, Marler's hearing is based on Rugby's code of conduct, and that code of conduct is breached probably hundreds of times each week in the AP, each round of the 6N... Why bother going after one absurd comment which wasn't directed as racism and ignore all else?

[Mikey Brown]

I agree with everybody.