大象传媒

The only thing I would say is that I've tried to view this issue without my Welsh hat on (which is hard) and come to the conclusion that even though I would love to see Alfie on the pitch the way he reacted was unprofessional. As a role model and former Wales captain he should be setting a better example to not only young people but people in general (whether he likes being a role model is questionable also but if you play for Wales your stuck with it).

I would also add I DO understand and I can see why Alfie reacted like he did and wouldn't be surprised if I reacted in exactly the same way but if I did I would also expect my punishment to be severe and that I would just need to take it on the chin. I would hate rugby to go down the road of professional football and turn into some immoral monster with people calling for yellow cards and the like, and I strongly believe that rugby has a unique responsibility to uphold the sportsmanship values that are quickly disappearing within today's society.

So Steve, another classic example of people unable to derive the context of a message, I was obviously condoning Alfie's behaviour if you read the post correctly but at the same time trying to understand it. I'm sure at least once in all our lives we've reacted without thinking or mealy as a result of frustration and an outpouring of emotion. All I was trying to do was put into context that Alfie simply made a Hand gesture in frustration and acted angrily by trying to get in the crowd! I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say I don't think it would have been a violent exchange if indeed he entered the crowd. Couple of last point Steve if you don鈥檛 mind young man I for one have never been in a fight in my life and hate violence but it doesn't mean I think all people are thugs who react emotionally. Also assumption and rudeness is just as much an issue in today's society as violent behaviour, perhaps you could argue your point more politely in the future and set a better example your self.

This discussion could go on until GT鈥檚 ban is lifted so I鈥檒l try and resolve some of the confusion by clarifying some of my views which I thought I鈥檇 made previously;

1. I agree and have from the start that Thomas should have been banned.
2. I don鈥檛 condone his response what so ever and as I mentioned in my original post he is an X Wales Captain and a role model so should know better.
3. The only point I was trying to put forward for the sake of balance was simply that he is a human being capable of mistakes as are we all, the level of criticism by some of the media and public 鈥淚 think鈥� goes too far and doesn鈥檛 even attempt to balance its view. As I mentioned previously I hate violence but understand in that particular case Thomas was wrong but I also understand how 鈥淪ome Humans鈥� can in the heat of the moment react angularly.

Look how my one comment where I tried to balance the discussion by saying I understand and would 鈥渙r might react exactly in the same way鈥� resulted in quite blunt and rude attack on my character! Reading that response bared no resemblance to how I have ever acted or perceived myself to be. Now I鈥檝e been tempted to react angrily to that but luckily I take so long to type I calme down! I can鈥檛 imagine the levels pressure and stress the modern rugby players has to tolerate (I only played at youth level and below) the personnel attacks in the press, constant deep analysis of every game or even move, the attacks by former team mates or x International who never had the type of analysis or media intrusion into private life to tolerate as the modern player has to take on the chin without the hint of disagreement. I鈥檓 going off on a tangent now I just hope the context of the post comes across as I INTEND and mean, had to re-sit my English lang. and lit at school so perhaps my context does not come across as intended.

I鈥檝e re-read my original post to try and see why it was taken out of context the way it was, I can see why you would think that 鈥渂ased on only one part of the post鈥� but when I read the whole post the context I feel quite clearly does not warrant the response it did.

Why we assume that men, the same as any other can cope with all this without making mistakes is beyond me, I鈥檝e never met a rugby player who knows the right end of a pen let alone one who can control every emission and feeling for a 15 year playing career.

He made a mistake.
He no doubt regrets it and agrees with the punishment and realises he deserve it.
He has been punished.
He will serve his ban.

End of story.

No need for complete strangers to attack him (Or any other rugby player) without attempting to balance the debate and at the very least to give him the benefit of the doubt. None of us know him as a person or have the right to personally criticise him based on what very little knowledge we have of him as a individual.