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Leagues and Governing Bodies

National Rugby League Lauded By Australian Drug Foundation For Tackling Alcohol Abuse

Moves to "end rugby league's boozy culture sparked by the threatened withdrawal of sponsors" has earned the National Rugby League official recognition as the "leading code in promoting responsible alcohol use among players, officials and fans," according to Brad Walter of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. After approaching the Australian Drug Foundation for help in '09, the NRL received the Good Sports Leadership Award at a function on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for its "ongoing commitment to improving the code's drinking culture." ADF CEO John Rogerson said, "The NRL is not perfect but they have taken strides and what this acknowledges today is they have actually shown some leadership on it." The "catalyst for change was a number of high-profile incidents" in '09, which included allegations against Manly players Brett Stewart and Anthony Watmough at the club's season launch, Canberra's sacking of Todd Carney, a six-match ban imposed on Sydney Roosters forward Nate Myles for "defecating in a hotel foyer" and the Four Corners report detailing sexual assault claims against Matthew Johns when he had played for Cronulla. NRL Education & Welfare Manager Paul Heptonstall said the league and all 16 clubs agreed that "action was needed to repair the game's tarnished image after sponsors threatened to withdraw." After some "hard conversations" with the players and staff at clubs over a 12-month period, the ADF "helped the NRL to implement an alcohol management strategy" that has so far seen all clubs:

  • develop and implement their own alcohol policies;
  • empower leaders within the NRL and NRL clubs at all levels;
  • facilitate player and staff education and training from juniors to the professionals;
  • implement Australian Drug Foundation "GoodHost" event management policies into events where alcohol is served.
Despite a 61% reduction in the number of alcohol-related incidents since '09 Heptonstall admitted that the game "would still find itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons on occasions but said the next generation of players was better educated" (SMH, 11/20).

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