Jacques Potgieter
The Australian Rugby Union fined Waratahs player Jacques Potgieter $ 20 000.00 (with $ 10 000.00 suspended), following an incident during Sunday afternoon’s match against the Brumbies.
Potgieter admitted making comments contrary to the Australian Rugby Union’s Inclusion Policy.
He will also be required to undergo additional educational and awareness training.
The sanction was determined following an investigation by the ARU’s Integrity Unit, after the matter was referred to the ARU by SANZAR late Monday afternoon.
The incident follows the endorsement of an ARU Inclusion Policy in August 2014, which is designed to stamp out all forms of discrimination and homophobia in Rugby.
ARU CEO Bill Pulver said: “We take the issue of homophobia in sport seriously and want to provide a positive environment for everyone involved in Rugby. Comments of this nature cannot be tolerated.”
“Our Inclusion Policy reinforces Australian Rugby’s commitment to ensure every individual, whether they’re players, supporters, coaches or administrators, feel safe, welcome and included regardless of race, gender or sexuality.
“I’d like to stress again that there is absolutely no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and our actions and words on and off the field must reflect that.”
Potgieter expressed remorse over the incident, and apologised for any harm caused by his remarks.
“I’m very sorry for any offence caused by what I said on the field during a heated encounter,” Potgieter said.
“It was an offhand remark made without thought for the hurt it could cause to those around me.”
Waratahs Rugby CEO Greg Harris said the incident was unfortunate, given the efforts of the sport to be an inclusive environment.
“Jacques made an error in judgement, despite having completed the ARU’s Integrity Training, which includes the Member Protection Policy around Inclusion and Racism,” Harris said.
“Our players have been educated around the importance of respect and integrity on the field, and this incident was directly in conflict to these values.
“There is no place for homophobia or any form of discrimination in our game and we have endeavoured as a club to embody these values on and off the field.
“We pride ourselves on a strong culture, and this incident is by no means definitive of our collective identity as a football club.”
Potgieter’s penalty relates to a breach of the ARU Code of Conduct, which prohibits homophobic or racist comments.
The ARU, Waratahs, the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) and the player himself, have determined that the matter does not need to be heard by a tribunal and accepted this penalty.
@ nortie:
Are you still on this. You guys are going to far… It is one thing for sports commentators to do it on the internet its a whole other thing for prifessesional sport stars to do it. You guys are really getting personal and it goes against the ethos that gbs apparantly tried to establish on this website.
This thread is embarrassing.
nortie wrote:
88
Yip
I don’t comment on off topic red herrings – I dealt with the crux, namely your particular unwarranted prejudice …
Maar gaan voort; grawe jou eie gat, lekker diep …
gunther wrote:
😆
@ gunther:
Look who’s back…..let me check the weekend results quickly…..yip, the Bulls won
Nortier the big monitor.
😆
nortie wrote:
Even the Aussies say he should stop grandstanding, quit rugby and go into politics
He fancy himself as “an activist”
We have plenty of them here, they protest against everything you can think of. And they seem to have some disease because they all liberally “self medicate” with pot
The only thing they don’t do is work
Pocock at least works rugby for a living
nortie wrote:
Ek wonder wat Pocock sou gedoen het as hy Bolla moes gespeel het, en Conradie sê vir hom “Jou Ma se ****” soos ons hom baiekeer duidelik op tv gesien doen het?
Hy sou seker ‘n saak by die Human Rights Commission aanhandig gemaak het teen Bolla die misogynist?
Pocock moet ophou om ‘n pissie te wees
Pocock must watch some rugby league, and harden the fark up
Seeing that League is much more popular than rugby down under if they behave like this I can only imagine what names they’ll call opposing players?
http://www.omgfacts.com/lists/13168/There-was-a-rugby-player-famous-for-fingering-other-players-in-the-butt
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/18/us-rugby-australia-bite-idUSBRE98H03R20130918
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/4309277/Joel-Monaghan-confirms-sex-act-with-dog
@ Victoriabok:
This policy was created after a rugby league player made homophobic slurs.
On the bright side, if Pocock does not harden the **** up, you and nortie could go beat his liberalism out of him.
@ MacroBull:
Do you think for one moment the Aussies have stopped their sledging on the pitch?
So you can call a guy what you want, just not the f word?
Farking hypocrites
Pocock should focus on playing rugby and stop trying to be a politician and the self appointed prefect on the pitch
He reminds me of Puke
Although he seems to be an even bigger d**s, he cleared that bar in street shoes
This is sime golden cameo by miller!
I must just say that there are worse things that happen on a Rugby field week in and week out. The punishment way exceeds the insult IMHO.
If someone called me a f-g (or whatever) i would simply think that he is obviously referring to my immaculate sense of style. 😉
@ Stormersboy:
If its an isolated incident then im with you, but this has become common in australian sport and it truelly affects those that may be gay.. this is why these policies have been put into place.
@ MacroBull:
Maybe, and I understand that these things are necessary, but to be fair, if he was verbally abusing a Gay person in the street I would support action, but sledging on a Rugby field, it seems a bit much.
A warning, mandatory attendance of some bullshit PC session, make him do some community service, but AUD 20 000 is a bit much IMO.
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