Pocock allegation mars Super clash

[antiussentiment]

... but to say nothing is an implied endorsement of it.

Exactly..

I believe the adage is "Bad shit happens when good people say nothing"..

[andrewg]

Why do I get the impression that David Pocock is preparing himself for an after-rugby life as a politician for The Greens.

[shasta]

In a game it's a referee's job to manage the players. It's not for Pocock to take opposition players behaviour into his own hands.

Well, I have a different view to you and have posted that. Leave it there.

[Sheikh]

There's a certain amount of sledging which goes on all the time. For Pocock to take umbrage at it probably means that it was either more excessive or more vitriolic than usual. So what are his options?

1) Have it out with the player in question. That might seem to the ref as if Pocock has started a fight, and puts him at risk of a card.
2) Talk to the opposing captain and ask him to have a word with the player. Is it known if Pocock tried to do this, and nothing happened? If I were the opposing captain and knew that one of my player's sledges were hitting the mark and putting a star player off his game, I'd encourage my player to continue (although certain sledges do go beyond the limit).
3) Talk to the ref. We know Pocock did this, but what can the ref actually do? If he hears the sledge then he may be able to penalise un-sportsmanship behaviour; if he didn't hear it then he can do nothing anyway.

I think by bringing it up Pocock's making people aware that it happens ("starting the conversation" in politician-speak) and maybe hoping that it happens a little less in the future.

Why do I get the impression that David Pocock is preparing himself for an after-rugby life as a politician for The Greens.

Isn't his not-missus a researcher for Labor?

[The InnFORCEr]

Potgit fined $20,000 with $10,000 suspended, he's sorry!

[jargan83]

I guess he won't be able to buy that ivory back scratcher he's been looking at.

[chibi]

I hope there's cooler heads prevailing and Potgieter's name isn't dragged through the mud and sensationalised in the media as some sort of Nazi homophobe over this one. I hope this issue finishes here.

[Scozzie]

I don't think the referee needs to get dragged into these sort of issues - most of them struggle to cope with the rugby decisions, let alone these sort of things...!

I've played in many games where things are said in the "heat of battle", and I agree that it's right to take the player that said them to task, but why go whingeing to the ref about it..........hit the guy hard in the next tackle. Usually, it's all forgotten about after the game anyway.

[Alison]

Why do I get the impression that David Pocock is preparing himself for an after-rugby life as a politician for The Greens.

A few of us thought that at the time his move to Canberra was announced! In years to come, he and Emma could be the Clintons of Aussie politics!

[travelling_gerry]

Who will be Monica?

[brokendown gunfighter]

no cigar for that TG

[Rex Messup]

I guess he won't be able to buy that ivory back scratcher he's been looking at.

Gold! Someone with as warped a sense of humor as me.

Pocock takes life a little bit too seriously.

He always has a pained expression on his face. He's built like Tarzan and talks like jane.

Another storm in a farking tea cup.

It's embarrassing to watch. So some really hard blokes who were bashing the shite out of each other questioned the masculinity of the other team............FFS

I bet they called each other a few other choice exploitives. Are we also going to ban bad language on the rugby field?

Where does this sh1t end?

Harden up princesses.

Fair dinkum. Men playing a brutal contact sport upset by a few words........sticks and stones will break my bones.........

Rex just turned in his grave

That sh1t just offends people who are determined to be offended. If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.

So it isn't very nice. Professional rugby is a war zone. Deal with it

[Rex Messup]

A few of us thought that at the time his move to Canberra was announced! In years to come, he and Emma could be the Clintons of Aussie politics!

Just what this country needs........more screaming Lefties.

[valzc]

Dear Moderator,
Is Rex overdue for another banning?

[.X.]

http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugb...-20k-for-slur/

POTGIETER FINED $20K FOR SLUR
The Australian Rugby Union fined Waratahs player Jacques Potgieter $20,000 (with $10,000 suspended), following an incident during Sunday afternoon’s match against the Brumbies.

Potgieter admitted making comments contrary to the Australian Rugby Union’s Inclusion Policy.

He will also be required to undergo additional educational and awareness training.

The sanction was determined following an investigation by the ARU’s Integrity Unit, after the matter was referred to the ARU by SANZAR late Monday afternoon.

The incident follows the endorsement of an ARU Inclusion Policy in August 2014, which is designed to stamp out all forms of discrimination and homophobia in Rugby.

ARU CEO Bill Pulver said: “We take the issue of homophobia in sport seriously and want to provide a positive environment for everyone involved in Rugby. Comments of this nature cannot be tolerated.”

“Our Inclusion Policy reinforces Australian Rugby’s commitment to ensure every individual, whether they’re players, supporters, coaches or administrators, feel safe, welcome and included regardless of race, gender or sexuality.

“I’d like to stress again that there is absolutely no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and our actions and words on and off the field must reflect that.”

Potgieter expressed remorse over the incident, and apologised for any harm caused by his remarks.

“I’m very sorry for any offence caused by what I said on the field during a heated encounter,” Potgieter said.

“It was an offhand remark made without thought for the hurt it could cause to those around me.”

Waratahs Rugby CEO Greg Harris said the incident was unfortunate, given the efforts of the sport to be an inclusive environment.

“Jacques made an error in judgement, despite having completed the ARU’s Integrity Training, which includes the Member Protection Policy around Inclusion and Racism,” Harris said.

“Our players have been educated around the importance of respect and integrity on the field, and this incident was directly in conflict to these values.

“There is no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and we have endeavoured as a club to embody these values on and off the field.

“We pride ourselves on a strong culture, and this incident is by no means definitive of our collective identity as a football club.”

Potgieter’s penalty relates to a breach of the ARU Code of Conduct, which prohibits homophobic or racist comments.

The ARU, Waratahs, the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) and the player himself, have determined that the matter does not need to be heard by a tribunal and accepted this penalty.