Flowers committing GBH during rugby match.

[AndyRM]

I like d the way they were explaining it on Radio 5.
The general concensus was that a few punches shared between consenting professional players was acceptable, But it crossed the line when you cant defend yourself.

This was the most sickening fight I can remember. In a Rugby Union, a Lions mid week game, where the opposition just go out to soften them up a bit. His own team mates end up pulling him off the guy on the ground. He punches him 11 times and gets a 7 week ban!

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz428AaGzoA

O'Gara is always fair game.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Flower's clear and uncontested serious assault... he should be banned from playing and be charged with GBH.... you can't do that and expect to get away with it. Thug.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29583539

He was sent off for retaliation. Which assumes he was assaulted first. Which he was. There was also a body check/off-the-ball tackle attempt earlier in the passage of play.

Better refereeing would have seen at least a YC to the kiwi for the first offence and the RC for retaliation to flowers. But as so often only the 'afters' get spotted.

By setting foot on a rugby pitch, either code, you are accepting, willingly, the risk of assault, and will be assaulted, according to the law of the land, multiple times during the game.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Not a good way to teach kids about sport being all over the telly.........

Not GBH but nevertheless an assault and as such should be pursued by plod.

Here's case in my local paper of an assault caused by touching someone's arm which theoretically it is..........

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/carlisle-michael-john-smith-sex-register-kissed-teenager-1.1167371

Quote: Smith, of Castlerigg Drive, Morton, admitted the common assault by touching the girl’s arm; sexual assault – which was the uninvited kiss – and an earlier public order offence.

Shaun

See my previous post. A perfectly legit/perfectly executed rugby tackle is an assault. Rugby is a violent game. Two grown men colliding at 40mph is violent. No one makes anyone play contact sports who doesn't want to.

See also... boxing, judo, karate, ice hockey, et cetera.

 

[ianrauk]

Absolutely no need for the plod to get involved. Let the sports governing body and clubs deal with it.

 

[Archie_tect]

Punching someone's cheek bone and eye socket while grounded is a deliberate act intended to maim... if he didn't think of that before hitting the man then he is not only a thug but a stupid one.

 

[subaqua]

He was sent off for retaliation. Which assumes he was assaulted first. Which he was. There was also a body check/off-the-ball tackle attempt earlier in the passage of play.

Better refereeing would have seen at least a YC to the kiwi for the first offence and the RC for retaliation to flowers. But as so often only the 'afters' get spotted.

By setting foot on a rugby pitch, either code, you are accepting, willingly, the risk of assault, and will be assaulted, according to the law of the land, multiple times during the game.

and that as half the fun, with no hard feelings left lingering afterwards as you get wazzered in the clubhouse bar.

 

[Beebo]

The two players have handled it well.
Flowers has said sorry, (he didnt have much choice) but Hohaia is quoted on BBC as saying:
"I don't hold any grudges against Ben,In the heat of the moment, people do some things they regret. I've done some silly things on the field myself. He's probably disappointed in himself for not being able to play a part in the game as well."

 

[Archie_tect]

That's all right then... when I played rugby, we didn't try to injure each other, we can't have been enjoying ourselves or having enough fun.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

That's all right then... when I played rugby, we didn't try to injure each other, we can't have been enjoying ourselves or having enough fun.

So what were you trying to do when you execute a hard tackle? Or a hand off?

 

[Beebo]

So what were you trying to do when you execute a hard tackle? Or a hand off?

The point of a tackle isnt to injure the player, sometimes you might be trying to hurt the other player, and make it an uncomfortable time for them, but an injury would be a very unfortunate outcome.
That said, playing at a professional level requires a level of controlled and uncontrolled agression that I wouldnt be able to fathom.

 

[green1]

If someone gives you a cheap shot, give someback. There was no need for the 2nd though and he'll rightly get banned for it.

 

[Archie_tect]

Depends why you're playing GG, if you are going out to injure someone then perhaps you shouldn't be playing at all. Tackles done properly stop the other player's movement, using their momentum to bring them to ground without injuring. Stop tackles are likely to injure both players. Palm offs should not be upward movements intending to break noses or gouge eyes. Trips and lifting are meant to damage.
No need for punching, stamping or biting.... ever.

 

[Pale Rider]

Police now 'looking into it'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29593523

Nothing may come of that, but no harm in reminding sportsmen the laws of the land are not suspended when they cross the white line.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Depends why you're playing GG, if you are going out to injure someone then perhaps you shouldn't be playing at all. Tackles done properly stop the other player's movement, using their momentum to bring them to ground without injuring. Stop tackles are likely to injure both players. Palm offs should not be upward movements intending to break noses or gouge eyes. Trips and lifting are meant to damage.
No need for punching, stamping or biting.... ever.

A bruise is an injury. Nearly every tackle causes some tissue damage. You seem to be talking about serious injury tho'.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The point of a tackle isnt to injure the player, sometimes you might be trying to hurt the other player, and make it an uncomfortable time for them, but an injury would be a very unfortunate outcome.
That said, playing at a professional level requires a level of controlled and uncontrolled agression that I wouldnt be able to fathom.

If you hurt them, in what way are they not injured? The injury may be trivial, of course, but it is still an injury.