Now this is something you don’t hear everyday.
Rugby is often perceived as a gentleman’s game.
In most cases this is true, after knocking the hell out of each other for 80 minutes, players will often share beers and shake hands after the game.
But at the end of the day, rugby is a professional sport, one which is ever evolving and becoming increasingly competitive and cut-throat.
What comes with this, however, is the desire to gain an edge over your opponent, often by ‘underhanded’ means.
We are all aware of the allegations and rumours during previous Lions tours surrounding the paranoia of line-out calls being discovered by the opposition. There has also been stories surrounding potential bugging of team meetings.
There is never smoke without fire so it is likely that there is a culture of this sort of thing in the game at the moment and the latest example of this could yet prove to be the most blatant incident.
English premiership outfit, Sale Sharks, have terminated the contract of Tom Arscott with immediate effect following a disciplinary investigation and hearing.
Sale Sharks Statement: Tom Arscott https://t.co/Cy7zZ9BCTt pic.twitter.com/cJ1q7DKjDq
— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) January 19, 2017
It is alleged that Arscott disclosed sensitive team information to Pat Lam’s future club, Bristol, ahead of the New Year’s Day game between the two sides.
Bristol won this game 24-23 after being 15-0 down at one stage.
Director of Rugby for Sale, Steve Diamond, told Sky Sports that senior players within the squad made a complaint to him after hearing themselves that sensitive information had been transferred from one party to another.
“Senior players came to me and said they had heard that information had been passed from one group to another. We set a disciplinary up and, in order to do that, we informed the RFU.”
Sale have stated that no further comment will be made at this time.
Bristol themselves, have denied any misconduct and they released this statement in relation to the matter:
“The club are absolutely confident of no wrongdoing in this matter and will fully co-operate with the investigation.”
It will be interesting to see how this story develops and rather unsurprisingly, there has also been some tongue-in-cheek comments on Twitter in relation to Arscott’s future club.
So, how long should Bristol wait before announcing that they've signed Tom Arscott for next season…?! 😜😂 #awkward #informationleak
— Tom Guest (@tomguest_) January 17, 2017
How long until Tom Arscott signs for Bristol…😜 #awkward
— G Fowler (@GH_Fowler) January 19, 2017
Bristol should sign up tom arscott now 😂
— oli (@OliverMarchant) January 19, 2017
