AP 25/08/2009
South Africa’s rugby team has been fined and found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for protesting Bakkies Botha’s suspension by wearing armbands during the third Lions test.
The defending champion Springboks escaped a possible suspension from the next World Cup in New Zealand in 2011, however, after a more serious charge was dismissed.
The punishment, which included a £1 000 fine (R12 776) for team captain John Smit and £10 000 (R127 681) for the South African Rugby Union, was announced on Monday by the International Rugby Board after a hearing in Dublin attended by Smith and South Africa coach Peter de Villiers. The other players were each fined £200 pounds.
The charges stem from the Springboks decision to wear armbands in the third test against the British and Irish Lions on July 4 marked with the words “Justice 4 Bakkies” to protest the two-week suspension for lock forward Botha.
Botha was cited for a challenge on Lions prop Adam Jones which left the Welshman with a dislocated shoulder during the Springboks’ 28-25 victory at Pretoria in the second test.
Although the independent committee dismissed a misconduct charge for technical reasons, it said the misconduct was serious in nature and there had been no formal apology, acknowledgment, contrition or clarification from either the players or the South African Rugby Union.
“The playing arena is no place for protest,” the three-man committee said in its ruling, adding that the wearing of the armbands “showed a serious lack of respect and consideration for their opponents”.
The Independent Committee said that, had it not been for the legal technicalities, both SARU and the Springbok players and management would have faced much more serious sanctions.
That included a more severe fine in the case of SARU and the suspension of the Springbok players and management from the World Cup in 2011.
It added, however, such a ban would have remained suspended in the absence of further acts of misconduct.
The committee said it believed its decision would deter all rugby players from adopting such an unwise and ill-considered way to make their feelings clear to the IRB, or the general rugby watching public.
The IRB said it welcomed the guilty verdict but was disappointed with the punishments.
“The IRB is extremely disappointed at the level of sanctions imposed against the South African Rugby Union and its players in light of the clear findings that they have brought the game of rugby into disrepute and acted in a manner which is prejudicial to the best interests of the IRB and the game of rugby,” it said in a statement.
Ad Feedback “The IRB is giving urgent and serious consideration to the decision of the Independent Committee and the further options available to it, which include whether or not to bring an appeal against the level of sanctions imposed by the Committee.”
SARU issued a statement saying it noted the outcome of the Committee but would not respond until it had reviewed the full findings.
…………but no-one’s interested appealing the non-sentence handed out to Gitaeu for the dangerous tackle on FdP, but a bit of sticky tape with Koki scribblings, that should have us kicked out of the 2011 WC.
1 @Manlybok But surely you have seen the excuses…he was just careless and have a squeeky clean record…
#2 Koos,Yep and he was wearing canary yellow instead of green
3 @Manlybok That too! I wonder what to local commentators will be going on about when Bakkies retires?
PS Wanted to go and buy tickets for next Saturday, only restricted view seats available! 😯 That is unless you want to fork out $250!
Eina Koos.
Ja, as we play better even the more moderate commentators in NZ and Oz, find their one eye slams shut.
Wet
Girls
Blouses
😉
#5 Koos, re #6, how are we supposed to skinner behind their backs when “they’re” being let into the “inner circle”
7 @Manlybok I told you, next they want to vote ek se!
Banning the Boks from the next RWC is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Why are Europeans such girls.
Koos
What is “skinner” ??
You know … in NZ … Women are not only allowed to vote, but hold “jobs” outside the home too 😯
Do you think this could be the end of civilisation as you know it perhaps ? 😉
@Rugby_Princess –
You not South African I gather.
10 @Rugby_Princess Stop telling stories!!! You know it is just wishfull thinking…no wonder the ABs’ are struggling!
Skinner is the opposite of fatter…
@Predawn –
No … sorry … I am a well educated & 😯 opinionated kiwi – but I do have a sense of humour 😀
@Koos –
koos is not nice to mislead the culturally disabled 😥
13 @Rugby_Princess Ja I know, will never do it!
@Rugby_Princess –
Sorry I think interrupted a flirt in session.
@Koos –
Well Skinner (in Manly’s sentence) does not make gramatical sense then !
@Predawn –
Eeeww ! No ! Honestly – (we) Manly, Koos, Coach Pete, Pietman & SuperBul have known for a long, LONG time 🙂
@Rugby_Princess –
Right..wink wink..nudge..nudge.
@Predawn –
Hey … be nice – no call for that 😡
16 RP Oh, that ‘skinner’, yes, that is something else…
And what do you mean “Eeeww!”. Expect to sit in the back of the Chivalry next time I take it for a spin…and Os said with that attitute you can forget borrowing his dress again!
Moenie met my flankeer nie.
@Koos –
EewW ! As in we are just pals – That is what chommie !!
oohh … like I am ever allowed up front unless you lot are too rat a*sed to drive !
Os dresses are too big for me by a coutnry mile anyway – so no great loss there 😆
@Predawn –
I cannot read Afrikaans 9as you no doubt already guessed)so have no idea what you mean – I guess means go away … fine 🙁
More almal, hey hoekom tackle julle vir RP?
No Tripples, RPrincess is a long time member of the clan(she can’t help it if she’s a Kiwi)
Predawn, be nice.
@Manlybok – I know, that was my point, why were they attacking her? hehehehehe
Hellooooooooooooooooo
Mmmmmm, I really do not know what to make of the punishment metered out….
On the one hand it was stupid to go with an unsanctioned protest like that.
On the other hand, it’s time somebody stood up strong enough against our game going soft and the obvious targeting of Bakkies and Saffas in general.
I guess the nett result is a favourable one…. it’s a clear message not to take unsanctioned action whilst the message must have been clear to the IRB tha we don’t condone the underhanded business against SA players.
Does anyone know what other reasonable or effective avenues there could have been to lodge a strong enough protest within bounds… in other words, what other method could the Bokke / SA Rugby have followed to get speedy and an accurate remedie for a scenario like this ?
I see it’s a very quiet day today…. it seems everybody is busy slaving away like I have to today….
Fark, work is for people who do not know how to blog or play golf or watch rugby !!
Kom, kruip vir so rukkie uit julle gate uit…. ek steek solank my Kameeltjie aan…
All Blacks must be dissapointed, there goes their chance of WINNING the World Cup 😆
Hi GBS . Just had Marlboro Light 🙂
28@Treehugger – Hahaha…. Rugby Princess is going to slap you for this one !
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