L&Y opponents disciplined
Lowestoft & Yarmouth will not be going to Twickenham after the Rugby Football Union last night opted to fine their semi-final opponents following racist remarks made in a match programme.
Lowestoft & Yarmouth will not be going to Twickenham after the Rugby Football Union last night opted to fine their semi-final opponents following racist remarks made in a match programme.
Cornwall side Liskeard-Looe admitted one charge of publishing profane and offensive material and a second of publishing racially abusive content in the programme of their EDF Energy Junior Vase semi-final against Lowestoft & Yarmouth on Saturday, March 21.
The RFU hit the club with a �2,500 fine instead of kicking them out of the competition.
Chris Quinlan, chairman of the RFU disciplinary panel which also comprised Mike Curling and John Doubleday, said: 'This is an extremely serious case. As the club recognised in the hearing, the offending material brought the game into disrepute. Why such material was ever published is beyond our comprehension.
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'Such material damages the reputation of the game, which is rightly proud of its image as a wholesome, clean, fair, family orientated sport, open and welcoming to all. Racism and homophobia have absolutely no place in rugby union.
'However, we did take on board the club's regret and distress that the material was published in its name. We were also conscious that the club has earned a place in a Twickenham final on May 9 in what will be the biggest game in its history.
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'Having regard to the circumstances of this case, it was decided that the appropriate sanction was a financial penalty, payable within 28 days.'
In addition the club must:
* Send to the chairman and chief executive officer of EDF Energy a written unreserved apology for the content of the programme
* Send a letter to Keith Nelson, the chairman of Lowestoft & Yarmouth, a written unreserved apology for the content of the programme
* Publish to the local media an unreserved apology for the content of the said programme
* For a period of 28 days from April 1 publish on the club's website and in a prominent place in the clubhouse an unreserved apology for the content of the programme.
