The End of the Game for Gentlemen

Rugby has often been described as a game for hooligans played by gentlemen by the football fraternity while football is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans regarded by Rugby fans, and rugby union fans have looked down their noses at football and its highly paid stars and scandals. But just what has happened to Rugby over the last two years? Is it on the slippery slope to WWF-style mockery?

Lets look at the evidence. First of all let’s start with the latest scandal or ‘Bloodgate’ as it has now become known. AS you all will know, during the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster, winger Tom Williams, who had replaced the injured outside half Nicky Evans was led from the field with blood gushing from his mouth. A heavily strapped Evans returned to attempt a drop goal which would have put Quins in the semi-final. All of those watching the game on Sky sports along with Barnsey gasped at the stupidity of Williams who, when leaving the field smiled and winked at Evans. The blood according to the camera's eye looked obviously fake. It has come to light that this is common practice throughout the Premiership according to Mr Richards.  

Eye gouging

There has also been a significant rise in eye gouging, Munster flanker Alan Quinlan missed out on the Lions tour to South Africa because of an incident in the Heineken Cup, Springbok Schalk Burger was banned for eight weeks after the second test with the Lions, a sentence he shared with Italian captain Sergio Parisse for a similar offence in Italy’s test with the All Blacks. Northampton’s new recruit Neil Best was handed a ban for so called "eye contact", and in 2007 another Northampton "Saint" Dylan Hartley received a 6 month ban. 

Drinking and Drug Taking ‘M Lady’

Mike Tindall was banned from driving for three years after failing a breath test the morning after a trip to the races then Bath hit the headlines with a series of drug problems confirming why it’s called the ‘Recreation ground’. Matt Stevens was banned from rugby for two years after admitting taking Cocaine. Three other players, Michael Lipman, Andrew Higgins and Alex Crockett resigned from the club after refusing to take drug tests.  Australian international Justin Harrison was banned for eight months for taking Cocaine but has since retired. 

Liar Liar

Possibly the weirdest story and 1^st prize for out and out stupidity goes to  Mattieu Bastareaud. The Stade Francais centre suffered a suspected fractured eye socket and facial cuts after a night out in Wellington following France’s 2nd test loss against the All Blacks. Bastareaud told  Wellington Police that he had been the victim of an assault by up to five men but later admitted that he’d fallen over his bedroom table whilst drunk. This episode almost cost France a war with New Zealand which only dissipated after the French Prime Minister apologized to his New Zealand counterpart. Le Pillock!!  

‘When I said nail the hooker I was talking about the All Blacks’

And now we come to the sex scandals. Topsy Ojo, Mike Brown and Danny Care were the subject of accusations of sexual impropriety by a teenage girl during a tour of New Zealand which later became unsubstantiated as the victim never came forward to make a formal complaint and all charges were dropped, never the less two of the three players were fined and reprimanded (Danny Care was completely exonerated) and no doubt Martin Johnston gave them a good kick up the backside on their return before he officially took the reigns of the England squad which also saw a new code of conduct introduced for future tours.  

Fake Tans, Big Boobs and Spitting the Dummy

We all know about Henson and his teammates Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips and Andy Powell creating a scuffle at the pub opposite the Millennium Stadium after Wales beat England but spare a thought for poor old Katherine Jenkins after admitting that she took cocaine and ecstasy which ended up costing her gigs as the mascot of the Welsh Rugby Union. As for publicly spitting the dummy, as well as Henson England has their own toy thrower in Mr Cipriani. 

A Bit of Rough and Tumble

Another worrying shift is a number of players on charges for assault - Olly Barkley and Lesley Vainikolo being the latest high-profile examples up before the beak.  

The Conclusion
 

With the Olympics around the corner and sevens being a nominated sport for 2012 this type of press is as welcome as swine flu. With players becoming household names and celebrities, staying out of the limelight is becoming more and more difficult.

But let’s put it all into perspective and take a positive from all of this, at least the powers that be are now sitting up and taking notice and at least look like attempting to put the Rugby house in order.  This season all eyes are on the Premiership just waiting for something else to make a story about. Lets show them that the amateur ethos of CAN still exist in professional sport, and make this season and every season after that better and better, and show that, while it has had some serious issues to overcome, that this sport deserves it’s place in the Olympics.

(Edited by Andy Brown)