Ulster players back Jackson
Good wishes sent by teammates:
ULSTER Rugby players expressed “sadness” at the exit of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding – in a striking departure from the IRFU and province’s position on the controversy.
The squad moved to back the two men, both acquitted of rape charges last month, in a statement that was read out by Ulster and Ireland hooker Rob Herring on behalf of the team yesterday.
Herring said the two players – who had their contracts revoked on Saturday – would be “successful on and off the field into the future”.
“It is with a great deal of sadness that the players and pro staff have learned of this outcome,” Herring said.
“We know that the two boys will be successful both on and off the pitch wherever they go.”
Herring added that the situation “is a bit of news that’s out there now and we have to move on pretty quickly”.
Ulster Rugby confirmed to the Irish Independent that they were aware the statement was being made and that it was sanctioned by the club.
However, it was strikingly different in tone to statements made by Ulster Rugby and the IRFU in recent days.
The contracts of Jackson and Olding were revoked last weekend and a statement from the rugby bodies said that they “acknowledge our responsibility and commitment to the core
values of the game – respect, inclusivity and integrity”.
It followed weeks of acrimony over misogynistic behaviour and text messages which were made public during the trial at Belfast Crown Court.
Ulster Rugby’s CEO, Shane Logan, said earlier this week that he didn’t envisage either player representing the province again in the future.
Ireland rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll
(inset) said the decision to revoke the player’s contracts was the only option for the IRFU.
Speaking on Newstalk’s ‘Off the
Ball’, he added that misogynistic behaviour needed to be removed from the sport.
“I think from the IRFU’s perspective, I think they were probably left with no option but to sever ties with Stuart and Paddy,” he said.
“You can probably only speculate really as to whether it’s based on moral or commercial grounds – I’d imagine probably a bit of both.”
“I think the IRFU moved swiftly to try to end the situation and end the slur on the reputation of the game that had been in Ireland over the course of the last few months,” he added.
Jackson and Olding are now free agents and looking for a club. English rugby club Gloucester have become the latest to say they would not be moving for the players, with head coach Johan Ackermann saying they weren’t in the running. Fellow English club Exeter and French giants Clermont Auvergne also ruled themselves out.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has welcomed how the Belfast trial has sparked a conversation on consent and how sex assault cases are handled. The minister told the Dáil it is important to identify if steps can be taken to protect sexual assault complainants when cases go to trial.