Here are your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday, May 3.
WRU respond to stinging criticism
The Welsh Rugby Union has responded to questions over their leadership and calls for mass resignations.
Pontypool RFC released a stinging comment on Tuesday after their hopes off winning a fourth successive Championship title were left in ruin due to rival team Beddau not fulfilling a fixture. Pontypool accuse Beddau of rejecting several dates to rearrange a match without explanation.
The Green and Golds will not face sanction for not being able to fulfil the fixture because, at the start of the season, the WRU did away with promotion and relegation - and the sanctioning of teams not able to play all their matches - due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with a view to returning to normal in the 2022/23 season. That decision in itself angered Pontypool last year and they have now been left fuming again, having to stomach at best a third-placed finish with their season ending incomplete through no fault of their own.
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Responding to Pontypool's statement, the WRU said: "As stated before the start of the season, following 17 months without organised, competitive rugby and a 20-month absence of league rugby, the key aims for this transitional season were always to help clubs to continue to restart community rugby safely; to welcome players, coaches, referees and volunteers and supporters back to rugby clubs and support players as they moved to new age groups."
WRU community director Geraint John added: “From the outset of the pandemic, we were very clear in our principle goal of ensuring all our clubs were in a position to come out of this period as sustainable businesses and we provided significant on and off field support in conjunction with Welsh Government and other bodies to enable them to do this. Due to the probability of further disruptions to the adult season due to high infection rates and lockdowns – which affected clubs around the Christmas period in particular – the Community Game Board made the decision that there would be no promotion or relegation this season.
"We would like all our clubs to complete their fixtures if possible – and we will celebrate outright league winners in conjunction with our sponsor Admiral – but because of all the mitigating factors this season, the CGB also decided very early on that clubs who didn’t fulfil all their fixtures this season would not be sanctioned. We totally understand the frustration of some clubs but we are pleased with the way the majority of our clubs have adapted to everything the last two years has thrown their way.
"Volunteers across the country have worked tirelessly to implement the pathway to full participation we put in place and we look forward to seeing further growth across the board as we prepare for season 2022/23. I and the Community Game Board would like to thank them for their hard work and support during these difficult two years.”
Calls for Bath coach to be sacked
Former Scotland international Jim Hamilton and England fly-half Andy Goode have called for Bath to get rid of director of rugby Stuart Hooper. The Rec outfit were slapped 64-0 by rivals Gloucester at the weekend and it leaves the club rooted to the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership, trailing Worcester - though they do have a game in hand.
It was an ugly afternoon for Bath and, speaking on The Rugby Pod, Hamilton and Goode agreed it was time for club icon Hooper to leave his role.
Hamilton said: “We have gone hard at Bath, we have gone hard at Hooper before. Hooper called me out about going hard at him and having a joke. I am going to say it frankly and I feel awful saying it because it is easy to judge and say you would be doing this, you should be doing that – Bath need to get rid of Hooper, they do.
“We are talking about Bath, one of the biggest clubs in England, and you are talking about one of the biggest games on the calendar and it’s 64-0. Now I don’t know what they will do with Stuart Hooper. He is a young bloke, he is a young coach, played against him, respect him massively but you have got to say how it is."
Goode added: “It was a disgrace. Sam Underhill was the only one to me that was relentless and putting effort in and then they take him off after 60-odd minutes… I am with you, Jim. You said Stuart Hooper has got to go."
Dissent branded a 'national disgrace' in New Zealand
The backchat to referees in Super Rugby has been labelled a "national disgrace" by New Zealand website Stuff.
In a piece entitled 'why New Zealand's abuse of rugby referees is a national disgrace', their sports columnist Mark Reason voiced his concerns over officials becoming too chummy with players, which in turn is facilitating more of a debate around decisions, blurring the lines of authority.
Reason cites the behaviour of Kiwi superstars Ardie Savea and Aaron Smith as a real concern, saying: "Ardie Savea and Aaron Smith have both been lightly alerted by NZR’s Chris Lendrum for criticising referees after the match. But should we be surprised when they have been questioning referees all the way through the match.
"And despite NZR’s mealy mouthed motion the dissent continued at the weekend. Smith was marched 10m for arguing with referee Ben O’Keeffe and Savea was still arguing with Nic Berry at the end of the Brumbies v Canes match about Salesi Rayasi’s yellow card."
Reason went on to opine that players complaining to officials during matches can ultimately give them an unfair advantage as they are more likely to get the rub of the green over non-English speaking teams or those who do not speak up during matches.
He concluded: "Is it any wonder then that players don’t shut up when they see that it can earn them an edge. World Rugby needs to take action because this constant communication is manifestly unfair on teams like France and Argentina where English is not the first language, or on the Pacific Island nations where a culture of humility is prevalent. So the message to Smith and Savea and the rest of the babblers is: shut up and respect the ref."
