The booing of Saracens captain Owen Farrell by Bulls followers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening was distasteful and insensitive. There’s no different approach to put it.
The Bulls pulled off a historic 27-16 win over the English facet within the Champions Cup opener, however the lasting impression of the sport was the unruly behaviour of the spectators. Even Bulls director of rugby Jake White apologised afterwards to Farrell and the Saracens crew for the booing.
Watching proceedings from the Loftus Versfeld press field, it was embarrassing to listen to the booing from the followers each time Farrell stepped as much as the kicking tee.
Booing new low
Granted, the odd boo or heckle and creating an uncomfortable atmosphere and environment for the opposition are a part of sport, however the massive numbers of Bulls followers who booed Farrell took making life disagreeable for the guests to a complete new low.
Rivalry and banter between gamers, coaches and followers, and exhibiting ardour for the sport, is one factor and it’s wanted in sport. However being impolite and nasty, and in essence being a bully, is one thing fully completely different and completely pointless.
Extra so when that “bullied” individual has simply come out to say he takes a break from worldwide rugby to cope with psychological struggles.
The Bulls followers ought to know higher, contemplating certainly one of their “personal”, Sbu Nkosi, is at the moment out of rugby due to psychological well being points.
Sensitivity and assist
What the Bulls followers ought to and will have achieved was to embrace a world-class rugby participant, Farrell, and present their assist for him … even when he’s an opposition participant and a few South Africa followers won’t be notably keen on him.
Society generally remains to be coming to phrases with sports activities women and men opening up about their psychological well being struggles and the way unhappy that there’s nonetheless so little sensitivity and assist proven in direction of these sporting stars.
Booing is a horrible act, and it takes on a brand new degree when it’s directed in direction of somebody who might not be in place mentally. Sure, rugby gamers are supposedly laborious males, however they’re human too.
Come on rugby followers, we should be higher than what went down at Loftus on Saturday.