Babbling 'brook

I can't remember the last time I had doubts about so many parts of our team. I do expect a reaction from last week but don't think that side is near the level of last season even though it has a lot of the same personnel. If the forwards do get go forward and the halfbacks improve significantly the...

You are right, you become one. And every new contract outlines the extent of your marketability. These guys have really had their lives torn asunder by an allegation demonstrated in court to be unproven. Taking that at face value, you are correct, they have reduced their standing in the public real...

except that it was utterly un-prosecutable and should never have seen the inside of a court. - Have you got a credible source for this, a legal professional unattached to the case ? couple of solicitors, couple of cops - yeah actually, why don't I post their names on some random website, let's see ...

So it sounds very much like there is a desire in some quarters for the IRFU to re-run the trial in its disciplinary process, with a lower burden of proof (or none at all #Ibelieveher), and with a large dose of summary justice as the outcome. What makes you say that? Because I can't otherwise accoun...

Mallinder, Andy Robinson, Shaun Edwards and Glenn Moore are being mentioned on UAFC as coach candidates. I'd stay a million miles away from Mallinder and Robinson Agreed. I like the idea of Edwards, but the parallels with Kiss have been pointed out (RL background, never been a head coach etc). Not ...

Plus there doesn't seem to be a clamour for Gilroy to never play for Ulster again despite what he sent... As unpleasant as the messages were, I think that anyone calling for such extreme sanctions just doesn't accept the verdict. I don't disagree with the idea of them being punished for what they s...

The facts are that they are not guilty, and therefor should be free to go about there career and private life. Problems do start when you look at how sponsor friendly they are and that this is kind of important to their particular jobs. How much of the fall out the IRFU and Ulster branch will have ...

I'm not on the hashtag side, but they weren't "proven innocent". Not guilty =/= innocent Not saying you're making the point, but I've always found that argument to be weasel words. You are already innocent in the eyes of the court. The only verdict that can change that status is a guilty ...

Yeah I was actually just wondering if there's genuinely a story to tell or if they just want to sell papers/get clicks. From what CiaranIRL said I was assuming it was the former. I honestly don't know, but there are have certainly been some rumours doing the rounds - at least one of which I thought...

What the IRFU have to deal with are 2 players who have been found not guilty of a crime but have found themselves to be on the opposite side of what society now finds acceptable. Do the IRFU risk in this golden era, getting on the wrong side of society and new social norms that are very emotive and...

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/application-to-lift-reporting-restrictions-on-belfast-rape-trial-to-be-heard-next-week-36773969.html It'll be very interesting if the reporting restrictions get lifted. There's more to this case than people realise. Interesting.. certainly AFAIK the bulk, ...

In reality though, if they want the players to go away, then they are going to have to hand over a huge bag of cash to do so. The players have employment law on their side. The more I think about this, the more I think that the IRFU are actually pretty boxed in here – and that the two players are i...

There's been very little empathy evident on this thread from an early stage, which somehow for me highlights how incredibly difficult it is to get any allegation of sexual assault off the ground let alone to trial, something backed up by the stats. Many men - and this is, despite not what some migh...

As for the IRFU 'having to be seen to behave in accordance with...the lad's contracts' - respectfully no, they absolutely have to very strictly adhere to their employment contracts and Northern Irish employment law and regulations, no 'being seen to' about it ... What can the IRFU review here? They...

I certainly think the complainant has been badly let down - but primarily by the police and PPS. I have heard from a number of people in the legal profession, and the unanimous consensus is bemusement that this case was ever brought to trial - very long gap between referral and decision to prosecut...

I would be appalled to see them included in an Ireland squad but I somehow doubt that will ever happen. can I ask why you’d be appalled to see them in an Ireland squad? (Genuine question, not trying to be clever) Their treatment of that girl on the night in question and the content of the WhatsApp ...

nc6000 wrote:I would be appalled to see them included in an Ireland squad but I somehow doubt that will ever happen.

can I ask why you’d be appalled to see them in an Ireland squad? (Genuine question, not trying to be clever)

Whatever about Carbery having potential, but the rest? Seriously? You're saying the someone like Cathal Marsh, currently Leinster's 5th choice outhalf, is going to keep the guy who was outhalf the day we beat South Africa in South Africa, for the first time ever, with 14 players, out of the Irish s...

as for coaches, we need a fresh start - so for me nobody with any historical baggage with Ulster, absolutely across the board. So no Davidson, Harrison, McLaughlin, Anderson. No to O'Sullivan - just no. Some interesting names on this thread, but not the most interesting that has been mooted so far -...

The smart thing is for all parties to lie low as possible. JS is not obliged to include anybody in his squad so that's one issue out of the way. The IRFU/Ulster have to be seen to behave in accordance with the wording in the lad's contracts, no doubt that's already been well investigated. The lads ...