Brown and Ojo fined

CJ · Post by CJ » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:33 pm

just coming through on the BBC web site - headline only as I write this, no further details

TigerTimmy · Post by **TigerTimmy** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:41 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 474155.stm

Stuart A · Post by **Stuart A** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:46 pm

Full text from RFU site (you will need Adobe Acrobat reader)

http://www.rfu.com/PDFs/discipline/nz-a ... ns-web.pdf

On first scan through it looks like a very thorough review of the events and it is clear that Brown and Ojo were the only two to have transgressed.

rugfan · Post by **rugfan** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:48 pm

swept under the table

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:51 pm

If Strettle was not one of the four wanted for questioning by the NZ police, who was the fourth?

bandido58 · Post by **bandido58** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:20 pm

Ojo brown and care didn't receive a copy of the EPS code of conduct but brown and Ojo were guilty of misconduct? and yet according to HHJJB "it would be unfair for the management to be blamed for any perceived indiscipline or misconduct"

Apparently the misconduct of staying out too late is worth £500 each, the same as missing a physio appointment by 20 mins?

This is a whitewash IMHO.

Just hope that, now that Johno is in charge, discipline is made a little easy for the players to understand.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:32 pm

Having now read the whole report, I consider it quite fair and just.

Two players were fined, probably justifiably, and three of them are in the Saxons squad instead of the elite squad. End of story.

The tabloids may wish to prolong it for their own ends but I never ever read them!

bandido58 · Post by **bandido58** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:34 pm

No, according to HHJJB, Strettle and Care allegedly only looked in on topsy and the lady through an adjoining door to remind about rehabilitation session coming up shortly, so they apparently weren't involved.

maskedsquid · Post by **maskedsquid** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:49 pm

jgriffin wrote:Strettle and Care cleared. So Rabeni gets three months plus for reckless play (unintentional) and they get fined and no other penalty?

You're not seriously trying to compare these two sanctions, given for completely different incidents, are you?

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:49 pm

A whitewash. But anything less would have been tantamount to an admission of guilt. A very nicely constructed "alternative scenario".

NB, however para 51. Another nail in Randrews coffin:

51. There is clearly a need for a tighter rein on players when they are on
England duty and they all need to be given clear guidelines about the limits of
acceptable behaviour. This is most important in relation to very young players
who do not yet have the life skills to cope with sudden stardom. As a very
minimum a future code of conduct should:
• Warn players to avoid potentially compromising situations which may
become public and thus bring discredit on the players and the Game;
• Prohibit players from bringing unknown guests back to team hotels
(without management approval);
• Set limits on the amount of alcohol a player may drink; and
• Make clear the limits of post match entertainment.

Iain D · Post by **Iain D** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:41 pm

Ok, so assuming that the players are as innocent as the RFU report states, what is their legal recourse?

I mean, if my name had be tarnished in the same way that the Sun and NOTW had reported, I'd be pretty livid. Also, it really doesn't seem fair that someone can make accusations in total anonymity, and then refuse to follow through with a complaint. Either something seriously wrong happened, or it did not. If it did, then the proper investigations should take place. If not, then retractions need to be made and names fully cleared.

I don't feel that this is the end of the sorry saga.