Baa Baas game called off - Players charged by RFU

[Rutlandtiger]

Maybe they could pay the £40000 fines received by the 4 students at university of Nottingham who broke the rules with a house party and probably will also get chucked out of university.

[kk20gb30]

Stupidity or arrogance ? The apologies mean nothing and their actions speak far louder than any words on social media.It goes beyond Rugby , and it goes beyond Sport. This group are playing with lives and livelihoods and quite obviously could not care less.Their actions should be removed from a purely sporting context and they should be be treated in the same way as any other person (or group) who has basically broken the law.Any punishment that comes their way from wherever is richly deserved for the damage caused and the image portrayed.In the circumstances, contemptible actions from contemptible people.

[Cardiff Tig]

Stupidity or arrogance ? The apologies mean nothing and their actions speak far louder than any words on social media.It goes beyond Rugby , and it goes beyond Sport. This group are playing with lives and livelihoods and quite obviously could not care less.Their actions should be removed from a purely sporting context and they should be be treated in the same way as any other person (or group) who has basically broken the law.Any punishment that comes their way from wherever is richly deserved for the damage caused and the image portrayed.In the circumstances, contemptible actions from contemptible people.

Let's not get carried away. They haven't broken the law. It's still legal to book 2 tables of 6 in a restaurant. And it's still legal to go the pub.

Yes, they've been incredibly stupid, but the main reason you play for the barbarians is the camaraderie with the rest of the squad that you don't get in a normal squad.

[kk20gb30]

Stupidity or arrogance ? The apologies mean nothing and their actions speak far louder than any words on social media.It goes beyond Rugby , and it goes beyond Sport. This group are playing with lives and livelihoods and quite obviously could not care less.Their actions should be removed from a purely sporting context and they should be be treated in the same way as any other person (or group) who has basically broken the law.Any punishment that comes their way from wherever is richly deserved for the damage caused and the image portrayed.In the circumstances, contemptible actions from contemptible people.

Let's not get carried away. They haven't broken the law. It's still legal to book 2 tables of 6 in a restaurant. And it's still legal to go the pub.

Yes, they've been incredibly stupid, but the main reason you play for the barbarians is the camaraderie with the rest of the squad that you don't get in a normal squad.

Don't honestly think this is getting carried away.Look at the cost (in every sense) and consequences of their actions - which , incidentally could well be construed as breaking/partially breaking London Tier 2 Covid restrictions.Look at how we are being forced to live out our lives right now.These are grown men we are talking about - and not a brain between them.The socialising and camaraderie argument re. the Baa Baas just does not cut it right now and they knew what they were (literally) signing up for .Their actions , to me are inexcusable.

[Knightonian]

Stupidity or arrogance ? The apologies mean nothing and their actions speak far louder than any words on social media.It goes beyond Rugby , and it goes beyond Sport. This group are playing with lives and livelihoods and quite obviously could not care less.Their actions should be removed from a purely sporting context and they should be be treated in the same way as any other person (or group) who has basically broken the law.Any punishment that comes their way from wherever is richly deserved for the damage caused and the image portrayed.In the circumstances, contemptible actions from contemptible people.

Let's not get carried away. They haven't broken the law. It's still legal to book 2 tables of 6 in a restaurant. And it's still legal to go the pub.

Yes, they've been incredibly stupid, but the main reason you play for the barbarians is the camaraderie with the rest of the squad that you don't get in a normal squad.

Actually let’s be clear if they know they’re all going out to dinner - booking 2 tables of 6, whether booked individually or collectively is breaking the law

The venue could and should if accepted knowingly get a fine

[Tiglon]

I would not say it is legal to book two tables of 6 in a restaurant. The law does not specify only 6 people can sit on a table, it says only 6 people can visit together, to rule out precisely this attempt to get around the rules.

A group of 12 visiting a restaurant is illegal regardless of how many different tables they sit on.

[Jacko27]

According to a blow by blue account of the events this week in the Daily Telegraph, they all signed legally binding contracts to abide by the Covid protocols. Some of the players broke them twice: a pub visit on Tuesday evening (which was undiscovered at first) and the now well publicised visit to the Italian restaurant on Wednesday evenong. Maybe JG's theory is correct: it was bravado, a kind of schoolboy dare: "we can have a bit of fun and get away with this".At best it was pretty stupid, as the chance of high profile players like Robshaw. not been spotted out in the West End are vanishingly remote.

[WhitecapTiger]

Some of the players broke them twice: a pub visit on Tuesday evening (which was undiscovered at first)

Dipping the toe in the water to test the temperature.

and the now well publicised visit to the Italian restaurant on Wednesday evenong.

Taking the plunge because they (or another group) got away with it the first time.

As mirrored in many different walks of life, the apologies only rolled out and saying "I'm so so sorry" once they were caught, no apology for earlier transgressions (whether all same players involved or not).

False contrition, false sincerity in the (pointless but PR damage limitation) apologies.

[Knightonian]

Their behaviour is both financially and morally damaging to support rugby.

They chose to sign legal contracts, to agree to behave and abide by those rules.

In the commercial world, you would be liable for the costs of your decision-making.

Personally don’t ban pherhaps just make them accountable for lost revenue, if it cost you millions hardluck - they made an informed decision

This is before the costs to supporters and plans to visit the match, the knock on effects of other players (Fiji) maybe having their bubbles affected.

Apologising after the event is a little disingenuous as having signed a contract they knew the effects of their decision making.

[thebearisstilldeano]

There is a canker at the heart of this we have seen before - a group of players and administrators who believe rules don't apply to them because they are "special".

Even when they are caught they try to deny, obfuscate and spin their way out - it is called "the Sarecens way".

For years now the media and senior RFU officials have fawned over these same players and club administrators. Well perhaps the chickens have come home to roost.

[LE18]

What about the possible health consequences to their families, being sent home, didn't they consider them when indulging in their stupid actions?

[VernonAtrium]

It’s another example of the privilege and entitlement that gave us the ‘Barnard Castle eye test.’ Their scripted crocodile tears merely underline the contempt these people have for everyone who isn’t part of their fatuous little gang.

[kk20gb30]

Social media footage almost inevitably begins to emerge of one of the incidents that resulted in cancellation :

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/footage- ... al-outing/

[chewbacca]

Like many people, politicians being the most notable example their regret is for being caught rather than the commission of the act.

[kk20gb30]

...if memory serves when it comes to making decisions Chris Robshaw has a history of getting it wrong.....