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.
I used run quite fast
29@Treehugger – Mmmmm Marlboro… let me tell you my story about Marlboro..
At school and thereafter I used to smoke Marlboro (Red Box)… then with all the sanctions and stuff, Marlboro pulled out of SA…. and I nearly gave up smoking in protest…
Started smoking Kameeltjies… and when Marlboro returned to SA I showed them a TOFFEE for leaving us in the first place… I Smoke Camel Mild… prefer the Hard Box because the siggies don’t et so crumpled as in the Soft Pack.
Did the Camel Lights for a long time then discovered these a few years ago and cannot smoke anything else, would rather go without. i love smokeing 😆
Am suprised nobody else mentioned th AB and the World Cup was the first thing i thought of.
Kan ek maar my E-ciggie saam julle rook? one advantage, dont have to move from my table to have a smoke break
@Tripples – Hi Tipples, have wonder’d about them. What they like and where do you get them.
@Treehugger – #33 I know!!! seriously missed out there hehehehehe well done!!!!
34@Tripples – Zeeeeeez Tripps, still on the ARTIFICIAL siggie ??
@grootblousmile – 9 weeks now!!!! going strong…..
@Treehugger – they are cool, you get them all over the place….. http://www.twisp.co.za
go to that link it will tell you all
Sorry just saw i called you Tipples,was laughing to much to fix it quickly after i saw what i had done.
@Tripples – TA, am off for a while. Toodleloo
@Treehugger – #40 bwahahahaha didn’t even notice!!!!
@Treehugger – Cheers Boom!!! 😆
The day I decide to stop smoking siggies, I’ll move over to Vitamin Green or Aaptwak as some call it !
@grootblousmile – ja ja ja…..bietjie onbetaamlik virmyom dit te doen 😆
Baie stilhier vandag…ek weet ons sukkel hier met ons internet en netwerk
GBS hoeveel registered users is daar nou?
EK het ook vir die Ierse duiweltjie genooi maar weetie of ek nog sy regte email adres het nie….het hy dalk al probeer register?
Alfred E Neuman, you’ve registered and been APPROVED.
Start blogging… I know who you are… pienk gholfballe en al…
46@Tripples – Oirish is reeds hier by ons…
Ons het nou so 85 AKTIEWE Bloggers… dit groei elke dag.
‘n regte ou manly cowbooi grappie 😆
A Cowboy sitting in a saloon one Saturday night recognized an elderly man standing at the bar who, in his day, had the reputation of being the fastest gun in the West..
The young cowboy took a place next to the old-timer, bought him a drink and told him the story of his great ambition. ‘Do you think you could give me some tips?’ he asked.
The old man looked him up and down and said, ‘Well, for one thing, you’re wearing your gun too high, tie the holster a little lower down on your leg.’
Will that make me a better gunfighter?’ asked the young man. ‘Sure will,’replied the old-timer.
The young man did as he was told, stood up, whipped out his 44 and shot the bow tie off the piano player. ‘That’s terrific!’ said the hot shot. ‘Got any more tips for me?’
‘Yep,’ said the old man. ‘Cut a notch out of your holster where the hammer hits it, that’ll give you a smoother draw’
‘Will that make me a better gunfighter?’ asked the younger man. ‘You bet it will,’ said the old-timer.
The young man took out his knife, cut the notch, stood up, drew his gun in a blur, and then shot a cufflink off the piano player. ‘Wow!’ exclaimed the cowboy ‘I’m learnin’ somethin’ here. Got any more tips?’
The old man pointed to a large can in a corner of the saloon. ‘See that axle grease over there? Coat your gun with it.’
The young man went over to the can and smeared some of the grease on the barrel of his gun.
No,’ said the old-timer, ‘I mean smear it all over the gun, handle and all.’
‘Will that make me a better gunfighter?’ asked the young man.
‘No,’ said the old-timer, ‘but when Wyatt Earp gets done playing the piano, he’s gonna shove that gun up your ass, and it won’t hurt as much.
@grootblousmile – #48 Dit is sommer baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaie cool…..geweet dit sal vorentoe gaan 🙂
Ek sien hier is nou ‘n copy cat en wiepeenouweer sluipbloggers!!!! hehehehehe
50@Tripples – Jong, ons moet keer of dit gaan TE GOED hier op die blog… oortref my wildste verwagtinge !
PS! Cool grappie.. hehehe
Wat gaan hier aan dat hier niks aangaan nie? 😕
@K9-MonsterLeeu – ja nee jy weet mos as jy nie hier is nie gaan hier NIKS aan nie 😉
werk jy miskien vir ‘n verandering?
@grootblousmile – Hello vrinne en vrininne!!!
Eish dit gaan bedrywig aan my kant kant vandag Рwall to wall vergaderings met my vennote, maar ek moes darem net gou inloer en dag s̻!
@Tripples – jaaa jong. In die sweet van my aanskyn sal ek geld verdien om DSTV te hê om rugby te te kan kyk 🙄
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 53
Het jou mos klaar geantwoord in 55 hierbo 🙂
Hallou K9
55@SA Barbarians – Helloooooooo
53@K9-MonsterLeeu – Hellooooooo Oom Leeubrak
@grootblousmile – @Tripples – @SA Barbarians – Goei middag maaikies.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 56
O, het jy die fancy karre ge-erf? 🙂
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