Drinking problem? Really?

A look at the findings of the RUPA (Australian Rugby Union Players Association's) survey carried out last January revealed something that has astonished me, and made me wonder what has happened to the game of rugby union, and the values it has embodied for so long.

A look at the stats first.

* Eighty four professional players were surveyed. Yes, 84.

* Just over half of those players believed that between one and 10 (anywhere between one and 10) players in their state squad had a problem with alcohol.

* 57 percent of the questioned players believed that the same numbers of players had a gambling problem.

* More than 22 percent felt pressured to play even though they were carrying an injury which ought to be rested, and 27 percent felt pressured to play for other reasons.

* 50.6 percent of the surveyed players rated the Super 12 refereeing as OK, and 20 percent found the level of refereeing at test level 'not good'.

The astonishment? Some circles of the press have generated enough hot air about these statistics for Steve Fossett to have had a good couple of lie-ins in his little glider as it propelled him around the world.

There is a level of astonishment and outrage in certain quarters that has not been seen for some time, because these people are discovering that (and please brace yourselves) rugby players drink alcohol and enjoy themselves after games.

Scandal!

Not only do they drink alcohol, they even do it to occasional excess, and then (and this really is the one that seems to have had jaws around the world thumping hard surfaces) a few have been known to stumble around and make idiots of themselves.

Shame!

What else do they do?

Well, occasionally they fall prey to what is probably rather a strong sporting instinct in their genetic set-up (they are world-class sportsmen after all), and have a flutter, or a wager, or even a game of something, which they then set themselves the challenge of winning, because that is what they like doing.

Outrage!

Social problems? Hardly.

There will always be occasional bad apples who take things too far and indulge it on a daily basis to the detriment of their team-mates and/or families and friends, but trying to make the culture of drinking and wagering a social problem in rugby is rather like trying to make things like the consumption of fish in Japan, sunbathing in Australia, singing in Wales, and complaining about the referees in England, culturally outlawed.

Which brings us neatly on to the next point: the players and the referees.

Can anybody who has played the game remember a game in which they genuinely thought the referee was really good? Quite a few of you, I see.

Next question: how many of those with their hands up remember the referee you are thinking about refereeing a game in which you lost. Hands down... hmmm, the number appears to have halved.

Now the final question: how many of those who remember a really good referee who was in charge of a game in which you lost by a narrow margin. Come on, you are in here somewhere... ah there you are sir!

Given the number of complaints about referees you hear around most clubhouses after games, one would have thought it was quite a positive for 50 percent of the players to register satisfaction at referees' performance.

Coaches, players, and referees will always have disagreements. It is hardly news.

Yet the media circus that surrounds every post-match comment and criticism and cross-criticism is what contributes as much as anything to the howls of derision from a baited public and apparent sniping from within the rugby fraternity.

In 1956 the South African team perceived the refereeing in New Zealand to be so bad that they refused to tour.

Danie Craven of South Africa and Cuth Hogg of New Zealand were present at an IRB meeting in London, at which they were put in a room together and told not to come out until they had made up.

They settled their differences, between themselves, and that was that.

No media quotes, no interjections from various other quarters. A genuine 'shut up, sort it out, and let's get on with the game.'

Today's sensation media will not leave the things alone that really don't matter.

They do leave the things alone that do matter.

*** 22 percent of the players surveyed felt pressured to play even though they didn't feel right again after injury.***

No wonder these players drink and gamble, they probably need anaesthetic and distraction from the concerns over their well-being. It cannot be right that so many feel like this.

This has not been reported on, nay, not even mentioned, since the release of the report, except for a lone brief sentence with the statistic on an Australian website.

'Social Problems', 'Drinking', 'Gambling' have all been bannered in headlines, as though those players who occasionally do it are problem people, serial abusers, and psychologically damaged addicts who need help, and yet all over the world, rugby clubs spill over with happily drunk players and fans who are enjoying their weekend with the sport they love, even those who lost the bet on the outcome of the afternoon's televised game.

Why did they lose their bet? After 20 minutes the key player came off with a recurrence of that Achilles injury. He will be out for another four weeks. Another player who recovered two months quicker than expected from knee surgery, has suffered a muscular tear in his thigh, leaving him sidelined for two more months.

Medical opinion had these players pegged as fit, and yet the players had expressed private concerns. But the club needs them. They are the stars. The club needs the points to win the title, or avoid relegation, and all of the financial benefits entailed. The player, loyal to his club does his best, except there is a niggle in his mind. He has not trained really fully yet. He has not played any warm-up games. After a few minutes in the match, he knows he is not right...

What is the real issue concerning the players and the game arising from this report?

Do you agree or disagree? Do you imbibe at your local club? E-Mail us your view!