Dux wrote:
But in reality there isn't a line. There isn't a clear-cut way of defining which kind of misdemeanor belongs on a rugby pitch and which doesn't. If legal proceedings were successfully brought against Flower the door would be open to litigate against all sorts of things that go on in a game of rugby. That would leave the game facing a choice between financial ruin or total sanitisation.
Flower's actions were clearly reprehensible, but he will get a lengthy ban and he will live for the rest of his life with the knowledge that he may well have cost his teammates a title. That seems to me to be a sufficient deterrent to any player considering similar behaviour.
Good post thank you, Flower is an idiot and spoiled the whole thing for everyone, but some people calling for legal action should really stop and think beyond club rivalry and hatred (however justified they may think it) because bringing legal action into the sport, any sport, would mean the end of that sport. Like everything else it would not stop at acts of violence, and let’s face it the courts would be on overtime every week of the season, no, the next thing would be wrong refereeing decisions that cost games, we’ve already had things that people have said on the field under investigation and resulting in bans, that would also be a prime target for the lawyers. No leave the courts out of it IMO or the game is finished! Be very careful what you wish for.