Jamie Roberts defends Welsh Players' nights out

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:46 pm

There's an article on the BBC where Jamie Roberts defends Welsh players' rights to go out on the town. Thoughts?

In NZ the major teams tend to discourage players from drinking too much or having really late nights in-season, though off-season is more relaxed. I know the Crusaders tend to be a pretty tight-knit group - the players' families are organised into an informal support network for each other which helps out when the team is away. The team's end of season bash tends to be at a private venue too.

by Adam D Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:48 pm

Jamie Roberts says the recent spate of off-field controversies involving Wales rugby players should not act as a deterrent against enjoying a night out.

"We can't afford to go into our shells and become these isolated people," said 24-year-old medical student Roberts.

"That would put across an even worse image. We can't be scared to go out."

But the Wales centre, who was caught up in a nightclub brawl in February, acknowledges they have a duty to act as proper "role models".

The behaviour of Welsh rugby players has again been under scrutiny following a late-night incident involving Mike Phillips in Cardiff City centre in June.

Scrum-half Phillips was restrained face down on the pavement by doormen at a fast food restaurant and then led away in handcuffs by police.

He was suspended by the Welsh Rugby Union from Wales' 45-man World Cup training squad, but welcomed back 10 days later after apologising for his actions and agreeing to seek help for his behaviour.Roberts attracted the wrong kind of headlines during last season's Six Nations championship when he suffered a cut lip following an incident at a Cardiff nightclub.

He was subsequently criticised by a judge for missing a court case against the man accused of assaulting him and Wales team-mate Jonathan Davies.

The accused, Daniel Richards, was formally cleared of actual bodily harm and common assault after the Crown Prosecution Service was told the case against him could not go ahead without Roberts and Davies appearing as the main witnesses.

"These instances have obviously been unfortunate and the fact that they've come to the public eye makes it all the more unfortunate really," added Roberts.

"Mike was very unlucky and obviously that's been talked about so I won't say too much on that matter.

"As players we realise we're in the public eye and realise the profile we have, and how we are role models to younger players in Wales.

"It's very important we conduct ourselves off the field appropriately. But at the same time, we're all human beings. We train hard, we work very hard and sometimes we need that release.

"Whether that is a night out in Cardiff, it's just very important we conduct ourselves appropriately.
"The last thing, as a player, I'd like to see happen is we become these people who are scared to go out and have a good time.

"We're humans at the end of the day. We're in a job that is understandably in the public eye and understandably with high profiles and we are role models to kids."

Wales squad members Gavin Henson, Andy Powell and Bradley Davies were all involved in separate bar brawls in April, but escaped any punishment from the WRU.

Assistant coach Shaun Edwards was suspended for the final match of last season's Six Nations after an altercation with fellow backroom staff member Fergus Connolly, who was also punished by his employers.

The Phillips incident has prompted WRU chief executive Roger Lewis to issue a statement stressing he will not "tolerate inappropriate behaviour".

Roberts says the players take their responsibility as "role models" seriously and accepts the press scrutiny that comes with their profile as international rugby players.

"We're under no illusions that we live in a goldfish bowl here in Wales and our every move is scrutinised to some extent and headlines are made out of nothing really," said Roberts, who left for Poland with the rest of the Wales squad on Saturday for the first of two week-long training camps.

"But it's very important that doesn't stop us from having a good time. Life is here for everyone to enjoy.

"If we do decide to go on a night out in Cardiff, whether that involves alcohol or not, it's important the players are allowed to do that and have a good time but behave in an appropriate manner."

Link above in OP

by Guest Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:56 pm

Everyone, including rugby players, only have one shot at life on this planet. It would be terribly sad for anyone to get to 70 and feel regret that they didn't enjoy themselves and make the most of their free time as a youngster.

Drinking too much and fighting is obviously another thing. But players and other famous people are an obvious target for other drunks. We shouldn't expect players to lock themselves away in case someone else has too much to drink and decides to try to take on the big, tough rugby player to show how hard they are. Players can help themselves by the amount they drink though. I'm sure alcohol has a negative effect on muscle growth and repair so will hinder rugby training and recovery from injury. Perhaps off season drinking only should be encouraged, with players still going out in-season but without getting smashed?

by Guest Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:01 pm

Griff wrote:It would be terribly sad for anyone to get to 70 and feel regret that they didn't enjoy themselves and make the most of their free time as a youngster.

I agree. However, it's also terribly sad if, at 35, a player realises he hasn't fulfilled his potential as a sportsman because of overindulging in other "activities".

As with all things, it's about striking a balance. Also, some players can handle a drink. Others can't.

by bedfordwelsh Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:07 pm

Problem is these days there is far more press coverage or forms of media that as soon as they step out their faces will be all over the papers/internet.

Places drink and socialise far less these days thatn they did in the amateur days but a lot of it was kept in house or didn't get rammed down individuals throats due to less press/media coverage.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:47 pm

There are plenty of humans, sporting and non sporting, who are capable of living happy and balanced lives without the aid of large amounts of alcohol, late nights, burgers, golf buggies, and assault charges.
The asumption that the only way to relax and have a good time is to puke in a jail cell is perhaps at the heart of the problem here.

As for New Zealand, theres footage of Ali Williams scrapping in the street on a night out...but he does seem to be at the high end of thuggery on the pitch so hopefully not entirely represnetative of NZ rugby.

by Cari Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:04 pm

I think moderation is the key here. No one is saying that professional players can't have any social life, drink alcohol, stay up late and eat the odd bit of junk food if they want to. What generates complaints, is the rubbish that goes with those things if it's done too much too often - and that can happen to anyone else. However, unlike everyone else, professional sports people should remember that overdoing those things can be detrimental to their career in some way - be it their fitness, reputation or whatever - and therefore can have far reaching consequences unlike everyone else.

Also, I think Peter Seabiscuit makes a valid point about this culture of drinking in rugby - although I think that is a reflection of our society generally. Teetotallers (like myself) are eyed with suspicion and/or disbelief. Donnacha O'Callaghan said in an interview once how people can't get over the fact he's Irish, plays rugby and doesn't touch alcohol.

by Portnoy Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:08 pm

Hmm.

Why was Danny Cipriani transported to a penal colony?

Somehow, someway a grip has to to be taken over players' conduct. And that does not include a soft parental threat the 'if you do that two more times you'll be sorry'.

It's not necessarily the player. It's the bosses who are too weak.

by ScarletSpiderman Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:12 pm

To be honest the players deserve a chance to let their hair down at the end of the week the same as anyone else.

I do feel a bit sorry for the rugby players to a point as they are seen as big strong men. And unfortunately there is a growing culture in the UK where young men try to make themselves stand out from the crowd by hitting the weights and trying to get big 'guns' to impress the ladies. These lads tend to think that by targeting someone who is renound for being a strong bloke will help their cause. So I do feel like rugby players are targets for these sort of people (and sadly some are that sort of personl themselves).

by snoopster Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:23 pm

I think when talking about it that it needs to be recognised that there are two different types of incident - players going out and getting drunk and causing the incident (See Andy Powell and his golf cart) and playes going out for a few quiet, sociable drinks and someone else causes the incident (which is what the Roberts incident seems to have been). The former should be extremely strongly discouraged but the latter is harder to do anything about - yes the players could avoid it by not going out at all but they do have a right to a social life, even one constrained by the their choice of career. The latter cases aren't a problem with the players as such but with society in general - yes the players can avoid it by staying in all the time but given everyone is also at risk, even if it is a lower risk, of the same trouble then doesn't it follow that everyone should stay at home to avoid trouble and give in to the yobs looking for fights?

by Cari Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:25 pm

Snoopster - that's also a very good point. As another poster pointed out, the appearance of rugby players can sometimes make them vulnerable to attacks from idiots who want to try and take them on because they're big guys or well known.

by Looseheaded Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:07 pm

As for New Zealand, theres footage of Ali Williams scrapping in the street on a night out...but he does seem to be at the high end of thuggery on the pitch so hopefully not entirely represnetative of NZ rugby.[/quote]

Ali Williams wasn't scrapping, he was actually just breaking up the fight, didn't throw a punch as far as I remember.

by Knowsit17 Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:44 am

There's a difference between having a social life and getting into rough-up's. If there's evidence or even hints that players are not acting professionally and responsably under the disciplinary program set out for them, they should be punished accordingly, plain and simple.

Remember it usually takes two parties. If the players in question have not been physically starting fights there's still a decent chance they've been helping provoke them. Players of their stature should know how to walk away.

by maestegmafia Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:36 am

Jesus

They are rugby players, they should be allowed to have a drink in their free time.

The media hype up anything that they can make look bad so much that it gets ridiculous.

I read that the South Wales police apologised to Brad Davies for the incident that he was accused of being involved in, when it became apparent he wasn't.

I dont think anyone has actually found out why a bouncer was pinning Mike Phillips to the ground?

by digitalshade Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:45 am

There's no harm in them having a few drinks with their friends like the rest of us. The big problem is that they seem to do it in the middle of the Six Nations or during other International windows.

What they need to realise is that - especially in Wales - they're high profile sportsmen and everything they do will be scrutinised and picked on.

by maestegmafia Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:03 am

Not being pedantic but I think they all know that. If they didnt they certainly do now.

It would be great to see them turn a new leaf and not get into any mischief, their fault or otherwise...

But the media are real hounds when it comes to a story trying to disgrace someone we all know. They always take the guilty until proven innocent view...

by Knowsit17 Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:25 am

maestegmafia wrote:But the media are real hounds when it comes to a story trying to disgrace someone we all know. They always take the guilty until proven innocent view...

If we were talking about one or two incidents over the years I'd agree but as it is there have been more than a few. Of the WC squad Powell, Henson, Bradley Davies, Roberts, Jon Davies and Phillips (more than once) have been involved in something or other off the field. Without drawing any solid conclusions of course, the length of that list makes me think strongly that it could easily be down to more than just coincidence.

It also makes you wonder why it's taken the WRU so long to react clinically and efficiently and draw a harder line for the players which could have prevented half of those incidents from happening.

by Guest Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:05 am

If indeed these players are being picked on by regular blokes wanting to have a pop or by the media wanting to find a story then for it to happen once is careless, twice (or more) is downright stupid.

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