Springboks Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has had a request for his box office misconduct hearing to be held in public rejected by World Rugby.
The Rapport newspaper in South Africa reported that Erasmus, who finds himself in the dock after an hour long ref rant video was uploaded into the public domain, sought for a public stage to answer the charges against him.
The saga has lurched along since July’s Tests between the Springboks and Lions when Erasmus made a 62-minute long video detailing the refereeing failings of Nic Berry and his officials during the first Test in Cape Town.
The sore point for the former coach was that he and his coaches were unable to air their grievances with Berry following the game.
World Rugby announced the misconduct hearing will take place on October 30-31, a staggering three months after the incident.
It is reported that Erasmus’ defence will argue that he did not release the video into the public domain.
Independent Judicial Panel Chairman Christopher Quinlan QC will chair the panel alongside Nigel Hampton QC and Judge Mike Mika (of New Zealand). All three panel members are on its payroll as part of the governing body’s regular disciplinary panel.
It is reported SA Rugby and Erasmus expected the independent panel to consist of outside parties.
“The allegations against Rassie are unfounded and the facts will be revealed during the hearing,” Frikkie Erasmus. Rassie Erasmus’ representative, told Rapport.
“It is therefore in the interest of justice to have a transparent hearing. There is no justification for any secrecy.”
But World Rugby reportedly rejected the bid, telling the legal team that hearings are never held in public.
Instead, the disciplinary committee will publish a full written decision after delivering a verdict.
Rassie Erasmus seems pleased that the case will be resolved this month, tweeting: “This is what we all deserve, players, coaches, supporters and referees: just to get an opportunity to tell the truth without an option of hiding anything! That’s all! Then anyone can make an informed decision on facts! The way it should be!”
When the charges were brought against him the governing body said ina statement: “Match officials are the backbone of the sport, and without them there is no game. World Rugby condemns any public criticism of their selection, performance or integrity which undermines their role, the well-established and trust-based coach-officials feedback process, and more importantly, the values that are at the heart of the sport.
“Having conducted a full review of all the available information, World Rugby is concerned that individuals from both teams have commented on the selection and/or performance of match officials.
“However, the extensive and direct nature of the comments made by Rassie Erasmus within a video address, in particular, meets the threshold to be considered a breach of World Rugby Regulation 18 (Misconduct and Code of Conduct) and will now be considered by an independent disciplinary panel.”
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think you will find that with both those and other surrounding events he had other objectives in mind. Yes he definately had other objectives in mind. Definately a preplanned attack on the Ref and done in a manner to influence future results. Yes I very much dislike what he did.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Well to give him a public process would be to treat him differently to every other person who has had to go before WR or any WR processes so he should not get preferential treatment above others. There is nothing "special" about Rassie Erassmus.
Brad
Roar Rookie
Jacko, I'm not sure if you're being disingenuous to prove the point of exactly how much you dislike what he did, or if you mean exactly what you say. I think you will find that with both those and other surrounding events he had other objectives in mind. The extraordinary lack of game time and many other extraordinary circumstances required a few extraordinary measures in order to overcome the Lions. Never an easy feat. There's a lot more to it in my view, with many nuanced layers worthy of unpacking (worthy of a riveting documentary too, I'm sure). If only we could silence the noise of the mob so we could all engage on some those points more fully.
Brad
Roar Rookie
Where did I imply that him having a point exempts him from due process? That that process should include punishment for transgressions committed is absolutely true, once those transgressions have been properly weighed. REs transgressions will be processed, the argument is whether that process should be public, with precedence and Rassie isn't special being the reasons sighted most often against. I am in the camp that would want this to be a public process, for many reasons, which I've stated many times at this point
Jacko
Roar Rookie
What makes me see him as an attention enjoyer? Well you dont do a 62 min video to hide from things. You dont run the water of an international rugby team as the DOR and not attract attention. Infact you dont do almost everything RE has done unless you are an Attention enjoyer.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
>"it is hard to know in which pocket the referees are nowadays….Blatantly or just poorly incompetently…" Alas for my profession, and alas for what you allege, the waterboys don't know the Laws of Rugby nearly as well as the Referees do. Usually the waterboys are so humble and low-ranking as to not need to apologise afterwards. Unlike say the Coaches. Everyone's onto the coaches. But we do have a Waterboy appearing before World Rugby for bringing the game into disrepute. Disclaimer: there might have been a waterboys' whip-around for Rassie's Fighting Fund, but if so it did not reach me. Like many of my fellow waterboys I wouldn't have contributed anyway. This is because I have standards.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
It doesnt matter if he has a point or not. He isnt subject to WR judiciary process because they disagree with his opinion. He broke the rules and MUST pay the price. Simple.
Brad
Roar Rookie
RE is accused of injuring rugby itself by attacking WR - it is still WR deciding for itself if RE injured it. What is so wrong with having a suitably qualified independent party make that decision?
Brad
Roar Rookie
It would appear that you don't 'get' the South African contribution to this site as you yourself are merely a visitor here and are not overly familiar with the landscape
Brad
Roar Rookie
Sure, that's why rugby itself should not adjudicate whether the accused did, in fact, injure it
piru
Roar Rookie
Last on my list is the officials, if the KEEP making wrong decisions on the field audiences and sponsors will get upset and leave. Possibly, but it's not on coaches to hold them accountable is it?
piru
Roar Rookie
WR is the authority - if you want to take it from the exact wording, Rugby itself is the injured party.
Brad
Roar Rookie
What makes you see him as an 'attention enjoyer'? I see quite the opposite with his ill health playing a major part in his withdrawal from the limelight. On the rare occasions he does draw attention to himself there is usually a compelling reason
Brad
Roar Rookie
If Cheika were hauled before WR for his many indiscretions I would want that to be a public process, if for no other reason than morbid curiosity :silly: Many things can be true simultaneously - RE is answerable for his actions, he may well have a point, and if he did not cause the publication of the video that is a big deal (as I said, he would need to prove that, not sure how, but I'm keen to find out). Also, WR is imperfect and a more transparent WR can only benefit the game. None of these things are mutually exclusive.
biltong
Guest
There is a big difference between what bladerunner did and what Rassie did, I think you are starting to lose perspective. The one act was criminal, the other disrespectful to an organisation.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Brad the ROAR faithful are very quick to smell a rat. And this one is a big one. WR should not act different with this goose than they would with any other bad indisgression. This isnt WR on trial as you seem to think. RE did the crime so needs to not only do the time but be seen to be doing the time and if he ever expects any respect from any in the game in the future then many many apoligies from him may start repairing the damage he has done. No other coach has ever done this sort of act so your "if this was any other coach" statement doesnt cut it. WR and the rest of the world did nothing wrong. RE did.
Brad
Roar Rookie
I have been following this site for quite some time as the articles are usually well written and considered and the comments section has some good rugby debate to it. Things have become a bit odd of late
Brad
Roar Rookie
Much as the video was unprecedented, this 'trial' is an unprecedented moment in our game. If this were any other coach I would still prefer it to be public. It seems likely that WR have already decided the outcome, so a public process would seem more fair and allow the public to examine what was considered in determining that outcome. Personally, I would need a lot more from RE than 'it wasn't me' to believe that his team did not cause the video to be made public, so I am very interested to hear what he has to say on the matter. It seems to be a knee-jerk response from many in backing WRs continued policy of borderline clandestine ways of operating (when it suits). As Biltong has pointed out, many have fallen victim to mob mentality in baying for REs blood, rather than applying their minds in a more considered manner. I am certain that Roarers are not usually so firm in their belief that WR is inherently fair and just
Brad
Roar Rookie
The injured party is WR - they are accusing RE of bringing rugby into disrepute, not causing harm to Berry specifically. While many seem to have honed in on REs criticism of Berry's decisions, much of the video was a criticism of WRs lack of adherence to their own processes. My analogy was clearly in response to Carlos' analogy, which I found to be a bit rediculous and believe this analogy is closer to the truth. But yes, it is still a poor approximation of the real world situation, which is far more nuanced that many Roarers seem willing to acknowledge.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I dont have an answer for the punishment. Hopefully those in the suitable pay bracket are working on something. I presume WR has the power to suspend him from all rugby related tasks but again it becomes hard to police. I see him as a bit of a "Attention enjoyer" so maybe suspended from all rugby duties and to have no imput into the game for 12 mths... To me he has lost more than WR can ever take away now anyway. He is no longer a respected figure in rugby by many and those still saying he has done no wrong are in a minority and also pretty-much only SA fans. The silly part is he could have achieved his aim so much less agressively.