Now angry Ulster fans plan boycott
Axed duo have been made scapegoats, says former player Neil Best
ANGRY rugby f ans may protest against the sacking of two players cleared of rape at Ulster’s next game in Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium.
Some have even called for a boycott of this weekend’s home match with Glasgow.
Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were found not guilty last month of raping a woman following a night out.
But details which emerged during the trial about their conduct and behaviour sparked calls for the players to be sacked.
On Saturday Ulster Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced that their contracts had been revoked with immediate effect.
The move provoked a backlash by some supporters.
And former Ulster star Neil Best accused the club of “betrayal” and “scapegoating” the pair.
RUGBY fans angered by the sacking of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding are considering protests at Ulster’s next game.
Some have called for a boycott of this weekend’s home match with Glasgow.
Others say they are thinking about snubbing team colours or staging a late walk-in to Saturday night’s clash in Belfast.
It came as former Ulster star Neil Best accused the club of “betrayal” and “scapegoating” the pair.
The protest threat is the latest dramatic development in the fallout from the high-profile rape trial.
On Saturday, employers Ulster Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union announced that Jackson and Olding’s contracts had been revoked with immediate effect.
It came 17 days after both were found not guilty of raping a woman following a night out. As the fallout continued: Fans rounded on Ulster and the IRFU, claiming the decision to axe Jackson and Olding had been “spineless” and “a travesty”;
Those behind Friday night’s ‘Stamp Out Misogyny’ protest at Kingspan welcomed their departures;
It emerged the players are set to resurrect their careers outside of Ireland, with top French side Clermont Auvergne leading the chase for Jackson;
Sources said both had agreed financial settlements “close to the contract value” of the players;
Ulster’s supporters’ club said it would be canvassing fans’ views before taking its next step.
More than a fortnight after the not guilty verdicts at Belfast Crown Cour t , the stor y shows little sign of going away.
While Jackson (26) and Olding (25) were unanimously cleared of rape — Jackson was also cleared of a further charge of sexual assault — after the 42-day trial, other aspects of their behaviour were heavily criticised.
The IRFU and Ulster Rugby review had focused on a series of sexually explicit WhatsApp conversations involving the players and their friends about the sexual encounter at the centre of the rape trial.
The messages, which referred to women in derogatory terms, were presented as evidence during the trial.
Following the verdicts, Ulster Rugby and the IRFU announced an internal review into the pair’s conduct.
On Saturday, a joint statement confirmed the players’ contracts had been revoked with immediate effect.
It added: “In arriving at this decision, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby acknowledge our responsibility and commitment to the core values of the game — respect, inclusivity and integrity.”
Ireland and Ulster star Craig Gilroy ( below), who was not involved in the trial, has been disciplined for sending one of the offensive messages that was outlined to the court. He had already been made unavailable for selection and faces a further two-week suspension.
Jackson said he was “deeply disappointed” with the outcome, but recognised that his behaviour had “fallen far short of the values expected of me as an i nternational player, a role model for the game of rugby and as a son and a brother”.
Olding also expressed regret, saying: “I am very sorry this day has come to pass.”
But fans who had supported both players criticised the decision, branding it “spineless”.
On a supporters’ forum, some openly called for protests at this Saturday’s game.
While a small number urged an outright boycott, others suggested staying away from bars or food outlets, while others said they were considering turning up late or without team colours.
Yesterday former Ulster star Neil Best hit out at the club’s handling of the saga.
He said: “At the heart of this whole situation has been a sense of betrayal — firstly by the players of the values of their families and the club, and now by the club of young men, products of their youth system — now sacrificed — not seen to be on the altar of morals and ethics, but perceived to be on the altar of sponsorship and money.”
Ulster’s official supporters’ club previously expressed concern that ticket renewals could drop if Jackson and Olding were not reinstated. Last night it issued a further statement, saying: “Previously URSC had said it respected the judicial outcome and the review process. Subsequently URSC asked that the review outcome be proportionate and in line with precedence.
“URSC will now examine the review outcome, and taking account of its members’ views, will provide its considered response in due course.
“Very shortly, members will receive an email containing a short questionnaire pertaining to this.
“We would encourage as many members as possible to respond to help the committee accurately reflect the feelings of members and act accordingly.”
An online petition calling for the players to be reinstated to the Ulster Rugby team has now had more than 18,000 signatures.