South Canterbury Rugby Players are part of the problem not the solution

“The campaign does not suggest domestic and family violence are in any way directed or attributed to rugby players or rugby clubs, but instead recognised the influence of rugby in the community”

 

South Canterbury Rugby Football Union chief executive Craig Calder is taking the piss....right?!  

Or at least so enamored, deluded with his beloved sport not to see the facts?

Think no-one in Timaru knows there’s an internet search engine called Google?   

The donation of 10 phones will go anyway to mitigate the sad record rugby has in the community. 

His community, the one that needs to address violence and it's his organisation that's some-how going to lead that change.  

 

Like f*ck!

Perhaps he's forgotten that 13 months into his own tenure a former South Canterbury representative rugby player called John Junior Faavae  who was sentenced in the Timaru Court to two years and six months in jail. 

His crime? 

Indecent assault and attempted sexual violation by rape.  

 

I guess that's not community violence in 'rugby speak'. 

In 2013 four South Canterbury players faced allegations of rape, which were later dropped due to in-sufficient evidence.   

But wait there’s more!  

April of 2000 South Canterbury Player Kemipolo Tongotongo was found guilty of sexual violation by rape.  

His lawyer proudly told the court at the time "He is a rugby player of some considerable talent"  

"The South Canterbury Rugby Union went to a lot of trouble to bring him from Auckland to play for them." 

Clean-up your own act Mr Calder. 

 

Put your arrogance to one side and face the facts you can't influence what goes on in the wider community.

 

You can influence the paltry 25 odd semi-professional players you have under contract.