Wales in move to curb the boozing
WALES rugby bosses plan to introduce an alcohol-free zone at Principality Stadium as they look to cater for supporters keen to avoid excessive drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Earlier this year, the venue saw reports of abusive behaviour in the stands while fights on streets outside the ground hit the headlines.
One elderly fan butted a steward in front of the press box during Wales’ defeat to New Zealand. It led South Wales Police to question the behaviour of some supporters.
A heavy drinking culture among fans has been given as one explanation and the Welsh Rugby Union are looking at ways to ensure any trouble can be minimised.
WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips said: “We ran surveys in the autumn to ask people what the stadium experience was like for fans.
“We asked what they enjoyed and what they didn’t enjoy and one good example was drinking, which is clearly a hot topic.
“What we now understand is that for lots of people coming to a rugby international, they want to have a drink. That might be in a bar or in the ground.
“Equally, there’s a segment saying they like a different experience.
“That might be a non-alcoholic zone, something of that nature.
“They don’t want people standing up and sitting down, or they want to bring their children. We’ll definitely want to try an alcoholfree zone next autumn.”
Such a move would be a first in northern hemisphere rugby but
will not be in place in time for the 2018 Six Nations but Phillips said: “Our job is to deliver what the customers want. We can’t stop people drinking in pubs before they come in but we can say they can’t bring a drink to their seat.”
Meanwhile England head coach Eddie Jones has one less thing to worry about after Manu Tuilagi’s citing was dismissed yesterday, leaving the centre free to make a bid for a Six Nations spot.
Tuilagi was accused of a dangerous tackle on Munster’s Chris Cloete in Leicester’s Champions Cup defeat on Sunday.
His citing brought howls of derision from Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll, who claimed the game was going soft following his citing. But common sense won and Tuilagi, one game into his comeback from a knee injury, can play on Sunday against Saracens.
Leicester head coach Matt O’Connor said he was surprised at the citing. “It’s a collision sport and we have to make sure we don’t pander to health and safety issues. It’s a highly physical game,” said O’Connor. “I was very surprised when the citing came though. There was no malicious intent.” Tuilagi has made just one appearance for Jones in his two-year reign and that was off the bench in 2016 against Wales.
Meanwhile Northampton, who sacked director of rugby Jim Mallinder last week, enlisted the help of England assistant coach Paul Gustard yesterday for a training session to help shore up their defence. Saints and England captain Dylan Hartley said: “I think just a different voice, someone else’s experience of coaching defence, can only help.”
In a light-hearted moment at a bad time for the club, Hartley says he is worried about the town’s beer-producing capacity.
Northampton is home to a huge Carlsberg brewery and Hartley said the club’s terrible run of 10 defeats in 11 games could affect a local economy also famous for shoe-making. He added: “Talking to Church’s, production in the factory goes down when we lose. The same at Carlsberg. We need to find a win somewhere to help production. People in another country are getting thirsty.”
We must not pander to safety issues