"14 APR 2019"https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/irish-rugby-players-taking-healthy-14308760"Irish rugby players taking sexual behaviour classes following Belfast rape trial""Today marks one year since the
IRFU terminated Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding’s contracts"
Quote,...Irish rugby players are taking classes to learn about intimacy, consent and how to behave properly, the Irish Sunday Mirror can reveal.The men have been attending compulsory workshops about “healthy behaviours” – including while drinking – following the outcome of the Belfast rape trial last year.
A spokesman for the
Irish Rugby Football Union said:
“As a background, following the trial the IRFU gave a commitment to conduct an in-depth review of existing structures and educational programmes.“We identified additional programmes that could be added to the education curriculum, particularly in the areas of healthy behaviours and relationships and the decision-making awareness relating to these.“We did recognise it was incumbent upon us to ensure our programmes matched the ever-changing social environment.”Today marks one year since the
IRFU terminated Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding’s contracts.
While the pair were cleared of rape, public outrage over the exposure of lewd text messages in a WhatsApp group and their treatment of the 19-year-old at the centre of the case led to them hanging up their boots with Ulster and Ireland.We can now reveal the IRFU, along with Rugby Players Ireland, found shortcomings in the services provided in educating players.The bodies appointed UK-based consultancy Gleeson Mills, who work with a number of sports in these areas, to carry out the education programme.
Its website states the company “specialises in the prevention of harmful sexual behaviour”.
The
IRFU said: “Our decision to work with this provider was based on the content of their programmes, their experience and their expertise in the specific context of sport.”
The Irish Sunday Mirror contacted Gleeson Mills to outline what their sessions consisted of but a spokesperson advised the newspaper to contact RPI to “discuss the content of the work they commissioned”.
A spokesman for RPI said: “Awareness And Behaviours is an interactive two-session workshop developed specifically for elite sporting professionals to discuss and promote healthy intimate relationships while looking at risks associated with situations they might find themselves in.
Workshop content, which covers areas such as healthy behaviours, including consent, was coordinated by player development managers and a clinical psychologist alongside IRFU HR, through consultation with a range of stakeholders, including male and female staff.”The
IRFU added: “The programme provides an understanding of the importance of making good decisions when others may have a diminished capacity to do so, particularly when impacted or inhibited by alcohol and or other substances.”
It told the Irish Sunday Mirror the senior teams – including the national squad – were first to attend the classes.
The spokesman said: “We prioritised the development of the workshops for our senior teams.
Most players have now undertaken the training. A small number will complete the programme at the end of the season as the training dates did not work for them initially.
“The programme has been undertaken by players in each province and delivered as part of a curriculum of mandatory workshops that also deal with gambling, social media usage, mental health and transition from the game.
These workshops came as part of a wider programme that promotes the personal development of players and their responsibilities as role models in society.
“The
IRFU is committed to player education and support and we invest a significant six-figure sum in relation to the education and support functions made available to players by RPI each year.”
Thousands of people took to the streets across Ireland and the North last year to protest over the lack of respect shown to women in a WhatsApp group that both Jackson and Olding were in.The Belfast trial heard how the latter sent a message which read:“We are all top shaggers. And there was a bit of spit roasting going on last night, fellas.”The
IRFU and
Ulster Rugby released a statement after ending Jackson’s and Olding’s contracts.
It read:
“In arriving at this decision, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby acknowledge our responsibility and commitment to the core values of the game: Respect, inclusivity and integrity.”
Recent Posts
