Groups such as the Belfast Feminist Network applauded the sackings of Ulster Rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.GETTY IMAGES
Pro14 side Ulster and Ireland int'l rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been sacked, according to Peter O'Reilly of the LONDON TIMES. The players were cleared of rape last month after a nine-week trial but in a joint statement on Friday, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster said that their contracts had been revoked with "immediate effect." Although they were cleared, there was "controversy over social media and text messages they had exchanged." In coming to their decision, the players' employers were underlining their commitment to "the core values of the game: Respect, Inclusivity and Integrity." The companies sponsoring Ulster and Ireland "were always going to be the key decision-makers and demand that the players be removed, in order to distance their brands from this ugly, prolonged story." There is reason to believe that sponsors such as Vodafone and Bank of Ireland "forced the issue." Nine days after his acquittal, Jackson released a statement expressing contrition that "a visitor to my home" -- the complainant -- "had left in a distressed state." But this was "perceived by many as a case of too little, too late." Though they are both young -- Jackson is 26, Olding 25 -- this "effectively spells the end of two very promising international careers." Now the question is where they can find gainful employment in the club game. They have been linked with Premiership Rugby clubs -- Jackson with Exeter, Olding with Worcester -- but club chairs have privately "voiced concerns about the toxicity this story has generated." That toxicity is "unlikely to spread so liberally in France" and it is understood that Top14 club Clermont Auvergne has shown interest in Jackson, who said that he was "deeply disappointed" by the IRFU's decision but also that he was "truly sorry" for his behavior (LONDON TIMES, 4/14). In London, Ben Rumsby reported campaigners against sexual violence "applauded the sackings" amid the "acrimonious fallout" to the players' rape trial. The Belfast Feminist Network, which mounted a demonstration on Friday outside of Ulster's stadium ahead of its first home game since the trial, said, "We are pleased to hear that those players who have exposed themselves as misogynistic will no longer be representing Ulster Rugby. ... Ulster Rugby has work to do if it wants to convince us that they will take action against sexism and ensure things like this do not happen again. We look forward to hearing how they intend to do this." Stadium sponsor Kingspan was also said to have "expressed reservations." The sackings followed "huge demonstrations" in Belfast, Londonderry, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Dublin and London in response to the not guilty verdict. Those wanting Jackson and Olding to be sacked also took out a full-page ad in the Belfast Telegraph last week (TELEGRAPH, 4/14).
RUGBY REVIEW: Also in London, McDonald & Greenfield reported the unions announced an in-depth review of Irish rugby, which has been "widely criticised" by campaigners for what they call a "prevailing culture of misogyny." Another player, Craig Gilroy, was also sanctioned by the unions over a text message he sent, and has been suspended until April 26 (GUARDIAN, 4/14).
