Take more responsibility

"Having read Paul Dobson's article on the unfortunate death of Riaan Loots and the reply of the manager of Delicious Rugby Club, the following:
 
"I have lived in the Ceres district for a year serving the community as medical officer and experienced the community there as people never taking responsibility for their actions, always blaming racism, the past, other people and the unfair system for their own problems.

"I experienced it as a morally bancrupt society that is never responsible for it's own gangs, alcohol abuse and violent crimes. Therefore, I am not at all surprised that once again the fault lies with the referee and not with the thug that committed such a horrible act, probably because he was racially discriminated against. It is what people seem to do when things go wrong in Ceres, blame someone - or something - else."
- JC du Plessis

"I totally agree. I played club rugby in PE and in every single game I played there was some incident that was not called for, many fights and games were called off. Not for one second did I think it was the referee's fault, nothing to do with race as whether we played a all white team or a all black team the same thing happened. I played for the varsity so we were mixed and it was great.

"The question is, what can be done to stop all this. It has been happening for years and it wont ever stop.

"SARU and the government need to make it a illegal act to go beyond the laws, in regard to violence. Charges should be brought against players who assault other players.

This whole situation upsets me and is no uncalled for, do we not play rugby to enjoy it anymore? or do we go onto the field now to show how dirty we can play so we can brag to our friends after the game?

"I have often been with the opposition teams after the match and the score or result has not been mentioned, the only thing they spoke about was what they did to the opposition.

"Sad day for a wonderful sport, which is losing its once proud name … I no longer equate rugby to the proud, traditionalist sport that I grew up playing and played for 22 years, I now equate club rugby to a coward pub fight and nothing more …"
- Shaun Pappas

"I can't agree more with Mr.Paul Dobson."
- Hishaam Edross

"Thanks for a great article. I wonder if there is any way getting this article to Advocate Nollie Niehaus, of the NPA, who is heading up the investiagtion into Riaan's death. He has asked for another week to decided whether to prosecute Riaan's murderers or not, because he wants 'the other side of the story'. This was maclious and intended and Delicous have shown the same intent when playing Clanwilliam."
- Tanya Brandis

"I whole heartedly agree with Paul, in fact I think it is one of the most accurate and fair articles I have ever read on this topic, and having been a part of a similar scenario as the Rawsonville match, I understand exactly how the whole thing works and the excuses that come of it. In my experience, two years ago, everyone – right up to top WP officials – turned a blind eye, and the offending club got the proverbial 'slap on the wrist' for their behavior which was hardly a punishment to fit the behavior of that day.

"It is inexcusable and MUST be stamped out before more players like myself just don't bother playing the game we all love so dearly anymore because of it!!"
- Hilton Eachus

"I agree totally with Paul Dobson, the moment anything wrong happens in sport everyone plays the race card, and politics are dragged into the fray. All it does is complicate matters with everyone making blanket political statements about racism in sport and our so-called 'quota system' (which is a joke).

"There is nothing to be gained from making all these ridiculous statements and accusing one another of such absurdities! I for one have played a lot of sport against 'previously disadvantaged' groups and the atmosphere has been nothing but competitive and pleasant, with no one making stupid racist remarks, from either side.

"There of course problems in certain areas with some uneducated thugs and morons needing to make themselves feel good by making racist remarks, and they need to be dealt with in the correct manner. I don't however believe that these comments are the norm in sports as many people make out, in fact these allegations are often made as a knee-jerk reaction to an innocent remark taken the wrong way. I feel sports men and women in our country need to:
a) Take more responsibility for their words and actions, even though I feel some people take things too personally and get nasty for silly reasons, we all must realise that our past will unfortunately affect our sports negatively for awhile to come, and we need to ensure whatever we do and say cannot be seen in a racist way.
b) LIGHTEN UP! Some people take things way too seriously and go looking for excuses to shout racism and make the situation worse than it is."
- Brent Venter

"It seems to me certain groups can play the race cart to justify them to act like hooligans, previous games reflect this, but it seems to me that because of a white that has been kiiled its ok, not a lot of frenzi, but if it was reversed , TV2 would have been there with commentators, all the disadvantaged people in foreground, government officials would have their say, ANC youth leaque ect, ect."
- Phillip Buys

"I agree wholeheartedly with Dobbo on this one, having been the victim of an on field assault a few years back while playing a club game in Cape Town. A similar situation with things heating up during the 3rd and 2nd team games. Playing for the 1st XV against a side newly promoted to the premier division, things were heated to boiling point, especially in the stands, perhaps the excitement of having a team play in the premier division or an over abundance of karate juice and coke, who knows.

"The off field antics eventually osmosed onto the field and tempers started to flare on both sides. Unfortunately things got out of hand and fistycuffs developed sporadically as the game stuttered on. Diving over for a try late in the second half, instead of being met with a congratulatory tap on the back, I was greeted with a boot to the head which left me lying stunned and bleeding in the in goal area. My game was over and needless to say the game was blown short.

"To this day I wear a scar on the side of my face, which reminds me of the unnecessary hatred that found its way on to the field, a place I believed was sacred from the first to last whistle of every game.

"Sadly nothing was done about it. Criminal intent, no doubt, but sad to admit it would have all been swept under the dirty rug of racial development should I have pursued the matter further. Who pays the price, the victim, the aggressor, the club that is penalized? The answer is none of the above. In the end it is the game itself that suffers.

"I sure hope that justice is served on this occasion and extend my condolences to the Loots family."
- Steve Mussett

"There is not allot one can say that he has not already said here. I do think that sports bodies in general today need too start getting far more strict on unruly behaviour violent or otherwise. As was said, it is supposed to be a game & to promote friendship & harmony, not destroy it. Tougher measures must be put in place & players/spectators whom step over this mark should be band. Not just for a couple of games but for years. This behaviour does not tech the youngsters anything."
- Desmond Minnaar

"I can only concur with your sentiments. Many young players in their first season soon leave the game because of the violence they experience. To quote 'why should I drive all the way to some distant field to be verbally abused, assaulted and flee for my life playing for UCT's 3rds'. This is a talented player straight out of his school's 1st XV."
- Rex Wickins

"Well said, Paul Dobson! A bloody disgraceful act or barbarity – makes me feel sick that a kid can die playing a game. And worse, the attempted justification by childish apportioning of blame – typical of the childishness of a society that needs to grow up!"
- Steve Morris

"NOBODY will be found guilty. NOBODY will take responsibility. The race card WILL be played. And, It WILL happen again."
- Ron

"It is high time that perpetrators need to be charged in a court of law and punished as criminals. There are just too many people who think that they can assault others under protection of a rugby game. This should also apply at the highest levels. The role models must be clean and disciplined MEN."
- Naas Rossouw