Social or anti-social? Rugby’s media conflict
Rugby World Cup boss and World Rugby chief operating officer Alan Gilpin’s suggestions that social media policies might need to be stricter have been dismissed by New Zealand players’ boss Rob Nichol.
Gilpin was disappointed over Wallaby Israel Folau’s anti-gay comments, saying his social media post was at loggerheads with World Rugby’s drive to celebrate diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness.
The saga could become the catalyst for stricter social media policies being introduced for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, particularly when player posts have the potential to bring the global game into disrepute.
‘‘It’s always disappointing when rugby is in the headlines for the wrong reasons,’’ Gilpin said.
‘‘We want and are very lucky, generally to have fantastic ambassadors for the sport, and Israel Folau has been that in the past and I’m sure will be again. We want those ambassadors promoting rugby’s values and those values are about inclusive and diversity – and rugby being a sport for everybody,’’ Gilpin added.
Speaking to Stuff in Tokyo, Gilpin said tightening the rules was something tournament officials would ‘‘certainly have to consider’’.
‘‘It’s something we’ll look at in terms of working with the teams to manage social media. From a World Rugby perspective, our desire is that the players are role models in the sport and are promoting the values of the game.’’
Nichol, chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association, told Stuff he did not see the need for any policy change, as the guidelines in place were ‘‘fine’’.
‘‘It’s worked fine in the past, it will work fine going forward,’’ he said.
Any changes would have to be approved by the International Rugby Players’ Association, Nichol said.