Bad behaviour of drunk rugby rans

CONGRATULATIONS to Ireland on a deserved Grand Slam secured on St Patrick’s Day at HQ.

My daughter Ella-Sioned and I watched on the big screens at the Principality Stadium before cheering the Welsh lads on to a narrow but fully-deserved victory over a much improved France. While there is still work for Warren and his coaches to do before the Japan World Cup, it is most pleasing to see the genuine strength in depth we now have in most positions.

What is worrying for me as a fan who has been going to home matches for decades is the increasing number of incidents of bad behaviour from supporters who have drunk too much. It has always been frustrating to constantly have our enjoyment of the match interrupted by so many people either going for refills from the bar or having to spend a penny during the game due to over indulgence.

On Saturday however we witnessed a fellow debenture holder of mature years. who is always present with his wife at Wales’ home games. being verbally abused by several supporters in front of him and then having one throw his pint over him simply because he had asked them to sit down.

It was an incident that could have got well out of hand had not other supporters managed to calm both parties down. Sadly it is almost certain that the amount of alcohol consumed by the abusive supporters contributed to this incident.

I totally agree with Peter Jackson writing in the rugby paper who suggests it is time for the WRU to shut the bars 15 minutes before kick off and not reopen them until the game is over. Failure to do so will increasingly drive away families, as well as frustrate those of us who have primarily come to see every minute of the rugby, as opposed to getting bladdered.

R Terry James Brentwood, Essex