Wrist message ban ‘makes game look a bit stupid’
World Rugby’s decision to ban players from writing messages on their wrists has been slammed by New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol.
He told the ban, introduced by World Rugby to align with the Olympics, was ‘‘completely inappropriate’’ and he was already working on getting it reversed.
Nichol, who said the directive was buried in a participation agreement, is fuming over the lack of consultation, despite World Rugby stating their rugby committee approved the ban after consultation last month.
‘‘The whole process that’s been around it has been poor,’’ he said. ‘‘It hasn’t gone out for consultation and that’s a big problem. It makes the game and themselves look a bit stupid.’’
Under the International Olympic Committee terms of participation, no slogans, symbols or messages are permitted.
World Rugby’s statement said a common-sense approach had been accepted by all participating teams and a spokesman told the ban covered the world sevens circuit and the Rugby World Cup.
‘‘There has been a significant increase in strapping ‘art’ or ‘messages’ on the series in recent seasons, which is impossible to police for inappropriate or political statements by the match officials in the short period of time before entering the field in a sevens environment across multiple matches and in multiple languages,’’ the World Rugby statement said.
Players have been told they will be fined $1000 if they continue the practice, which Nichol rubbished.
‘‘Even the concept of a fine. World Rugby doesn’t have the power to fine our players, so it’s comical . . . it’s a joke.
‘‘The whole thing has just been really poorly done.’’
Nichol has made his views known to the International Rugby Players Association and New Zealand Rugby, and asked both to relay his association’s concerns to World Rugby. The ban disrespected
players, hadn’t been thought through and was nothing short of flawed, Nichol said.
‘‘By just unilaterally making this decision and then imposing it on the athletes, that’s just completely contrary to the values and the character of the game, and this is from the people that are supposed to govern the game.’’
While was told the ban also covered the Rugby World Cup, Nichol hadn’t been told how ranging the ban was, further solidifying his view of it being a ‘‘poorly implemented policy’’.
Word of the directive emerged yesterday after Black Ferns player Niall Williams, All Blacks
midfielder Sonny Bill Williams’ sister, and Canadian sevens player Jen Kish took to social media to vent their frustration.
Rather than straight up banning the practice, Nichol would rather see World Rugby educating players around what they can and can’t write.
‘‘There’s already regulations in place saying you can’t write inappropriate things on your body,’’ Nichol said.
‘‘So maybe the starting point is let’s just put a bit of focus on education and make it really clear that if you’re going to write on your wrist, you can’t use it to do inappropriate things.’’