Where in the UK is Castleford?

Rugby league club fined over gay chants

* From: AFP
* June 30, 2010 1:53PM



ENGLISH rugby league club Castleford has been fined about $70,000 because of homophobic chanting by fans aimed at an opposition player.

The taunts by Castleford fans were aimed at former Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas in the Super League match against Crusaders on March 26.

Thomas announced in December he was gay in December. He joined the Crusaders in March, and was making his second appearance.

Half of the fine, posed by the Rugby Football League (RFL) was suspended until the end of 2011.

"Castleford were found guilty of unacceptable behaviour, of breaching the RFL's respect policy, of misconduct by their supporters and of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the sport,'' an RFL statement said in announcing the fine.

Thomas's agent said the fine was `historic'.



"Gareth Thomas is all about delivering positive messages and positive changes and, to that end, today was a huge step forward for Gareth and the world of sport. " Emanuel Palladino said.

"It is not about the fine, but rather recognition that this behaviour from a small section of the Castleford fans is not acceptable in 2010.''

Castleford chief executive Richard Wright said the club were "shocked' by the fine and would appeal.

- AFP

In Lancashire isn't it (like every other UK Leeeeeggeee team).

they're mostly oop noorth ...

just never heard of castleford

Brainless idiots. Just goes to show that even Rugby has its share of thugs who don't understand the world around them.

DJ_Smerk wrote:Brainless idiots. Just goes to show that even Rugby has its share of thugs who don't understand the world around them.

Rugby League is the source of all evil, FFS . . ..

JGK wrote:In Lancashire isn't it (like every other UK Leeeeeggeee team).

It's in Yorkshire

tac wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:Brainless idiots. Just goes to show that even Rugby has its share of thugs who don't understand the world around them.

Rugby League is the source of all evil, FFS . . ..

I don't tend to watch Rugby League. I find it boring.

[tac]You don't watch Rugby Union either by the sounds of it[/tac]

Nah, it's sh!t.

good on Thomas for taking this stance

20 years ago in Aussie Rules Indigenous Australian players began saying no to racism from the opposition and its fans

the Symonds complaint of racism in cricket for all the rubbish said and written at the time marked a line that says racism has no place on the cricket field

I guess homophobia is the new frontier

horace wrote:good on Thomas for taking this stance

20 years ago in Aussie Rules Indigenous Australian players began saying no to racism from the opposition and its fans

the Symonds complaint of racism in cricket for all the rubbish said and written at the time marked a line that says racism has no place on the cricket field

I guess homophobia is the new frontier

Aye, but homophobia is less obvious and about as pointless and ridiculous as racism in any walk of life.

Did Sol Campbell get much stick from Trev?

I have a friend who once desribed Union as "grown men hugging each other" Sadly, he didn't take me up on my suggestion that he should say that to Martin Johnson's face while I watched.

Martin Johnson?

Try saying it to any world class rugby player.

Or more likely, he'll say it to Ronan O'Gara and get a mean stare in reply.

I am scared whenever Johnson comes on the telly

He's 6 foot 5, near 300 pounds and he coaches the senior England Rugby Union side.


He's not an MMA fighter, Horrie. Just get in your wheelchair and drive away.

Although, I'd lock the doors if I saw him.

Johnson is a hard hard man. I wouldn't want to piss him off. It says a bit about Justin Harrison's brainpower actually.

Having said that, I know that Johnson is a big fan of NFL and was a guest commentator on some pay TV NFL show while I was living in London and he did say that he was in awe at how tough the NFLers were.