Comments on: Ashton’s ‘hair pulling’ antics will set a precedent

By: Roly

Roly — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:15:57 +0000

I understand there’s no specific law against ‘hair pulling’ in Rugby Union or NFL so they have can use the law of ‘Acts Contrary to Good Sportsmanship’ and I’m sure there’s a similar law in NFL. I agree, there’s an understanding that it’s wrong in rugby and that it should be punished, but I just think 4 weeks is a long time for a quick tug!

By: Roly

Roly — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:10:31 +0000

I agree with Jim Mallinder, a four week ban for pulling someones hair seems very harsh. Wingers actions are very exposed so it seems worse than it is, but if this went on in a scrum no one would blink. I watched NFL last week and a guy got pulled down by his dreadlocks when about to score and everyone thought that was fair enough!

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:15:03 +0000

That’s because it’s legal in the NFL. It’s not in Rugby.

By: phil jones

phil jones — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:55:56 +0000

having watched the video i can tell you that it was most definitely malicious. Ashton pulled on Tuilagis hair like he was doing a tug-of-war.

By: Pontylad

Pontylad — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:58:43 +0000

Ashton seemed to be acting on the premise that if you’ve got a tiger by the tail then keep on pulling and he got the result that you’d expect both on and off the pitch.

Only seen out in the open hair-pulling once before in a game and that was many years ago in my school team where a particular forward went through his whole school career without a hair-cut and got dragged back by his flowing locks about 20 yds out from a clear score. I think he was ordered to squeeze it under a scrum cap or get it cut .

Seems like a one off and not likely to set a trend reinforced by the ban .

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:51:39 +0000

Any man, anywhere, should be punished for hair-pulling. This is a rule of life, not just rugby.

By: Staggy

Staggy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:34:30 +0000

Would you want to risk angering the Tuilagi clan!!!!

By: jimmymc1

jimmymc1 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:09:21 +0000

fuss over nothing.

there wont be a spate of “hair pulling ” across the premiership or anything will there!

By: Hutch

Hutch — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:59:13 +0000

There’s a video up now on the Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/TheRugbyBlog

By: Spike

Spike — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:31:03 +0000

Just watched the game through again. I don’t think it was too bad – in real time he reaches out to grab hold of something, grabs his hair first as its the closest thing then drags him in and grabs the body. Penalty for unsporting conduct at most. The red cards were unnecessary as well. No clean punches… Murphy probably throws the most “proper” punches.

By: Staggy

Staggy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:59:43 +0000

However it was the one that kicked everything off!

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:17:56 +0000

Ashton has since been cited. Surprisingly the only citing from the match. Hearing set for tomorrow.