From: higham@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.sport.rugby
Subject: Re: Richard Loe - About Time !
Date: 12 Oct 92 16:32:23 +1300
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <1992Oct12.004941.28536@lugb.latrobe.edu.au>, CS19242428D@LUST.LATROBE.EDU.AU (Tim BY C) writes:
> In <BvtzMC.38u@alsvid.une.edu.au> preidy@alsvid.une.edu.au writes:
> 
>> G'Day Rugby Followers,
>> 
>> I was pleased to see on last nights news the suspension of Richard Loe for 9
>> months. It seemed when the All Blacks were in Australia that they did not have
>> a system to reprimand players, following Sam Scott-Young's and Paul Carozza's
>> injuries.  However justice prevailed, only perhaps, because this time his
>> indiscretion was against a fellow Kiwi. Whether this is the case doesn't
>> matter as finally there is warning to players who play this style of rugby,
>> that it will not be condoned.
>> 
>> Yours in Rugby,
>> 
>> Paul Reidy.
>> 
>> -- 
>> Paul Reidy  Internet:  preidy@loki.une.edu.au   Phone:  +61 66 ????????
>>     University of New England, Northern Rivers (Lismore) NSW Australia
> 
> Yes, I totally agree with the punishment handed out to that "gentleman" Mr Loe.
> It's just a pity that this action had not been taken out earlier.  Was Richard
> Loe such a great player that despite all of his thuggish acts, that the
> All-Black's considered him irreplacable, and hence ignored his blatantly 
> intentional tactics? 
> 
> And who shall fill his shoes in the All-Black line up?
> 
> Adios,
> 
> tim.

I think this whole incident has illustrated how woefully underprepared the
NZRFU is for disciplinary proceedings and how necessary is the outline of some 
guide as to what players can expect to receive in the way of action for foul
play. As it stands now, we have 9 months for eye gouging and 6 weeks for
rucking, I think. They really need to sort out exactly what to expect if you
rip someones testicles off, kick someone in the head, break a nose etc.
Something along the lines of:

1. EYE GOUGE       9 months.
2. Testicle grab   2 months.
3. Nasty late tackle with some kind of testicle lunge   6 weeks
4. OVER VIGOROUS RUCKING   6 weeks.
5. Nose pull leading to extreme nasal soreness  2 weeks.
6. Headbutt (may have been accidental, sorry)  1 week.

and so on...

I'd also like to add that its not surprising someone like Loe comes out of
rugby when you consider the tacit acceptance of violence that permeates all
levels of this game in NEw Zealand , and elsewhere. A look at the hype and
promotion of the sport in the media, the ways in which on field violence is
talked about among many people and especially commentators in glowing terms
("he deserved it, he shouldn't have been standing in the offside position all
day"  "Wooo, look at that haymaker Bruce, caught him flush on the side of the
face...lets have another look at that again".  "Yes, thats a nasty gash on the
side of Fitzy's lip and a tooth is missing...good thing they've got dentist
Earl Kirton on the team list eh Stu, he he he " ), the way in which young kids
are encouraged from the sideline "to put the boot in", hey, the whole hard
rucking philosophy of our game ("sorry ref, I thought it was the ball"). 
Confusing messages in that fuzzy void where aggression meets over aggression; 
ask Richard Loe. After the incidents in Australia, he probably thought he 
could maim someone with the support of the NZRFU, sorry Rich old boy, you 
just went too far. The power of TV.

As far as replacements goes, my first pick would be Mark "The Bull" Allen.
'Course, they could always give Steve Hotton a run :^)    
-- 
Tom Higham,                    
Radiocarbon Dating Lab,
University of Waikato,
Hamilton,
NEW ZEALAND.
Higham@waikato.ac.nz /
C14@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.sport.rugby