What do people think about martin Johnson being allowed to captain England against France (Rugby Union) on saturday whilst awaiting an appeal against suspension for allegedly punching another player during a club game? I must admit to having mixed feelings. Johnson is a brilliant captain and I want England to win but I do think that it is a shame that the RFU (the governing body of English rugby) couldn't get an appeal heard quicker than 3 weeks.

I'm just trying to think how it works here for different sports ... I think that they wouldn't be allowed to play and I can remember occasions where trials and appeals were heard quickly to clear/or not clear players for upcoming representative games.

If he wasn't allowed to play wouldn't it sort of be a case of being presumed guilty? Either way, I reckon they (RFU) should have cleared the situation up.

No alleged about the offence, admitted and apologised for both in National and our Local (Leicester) press.
The point in question seems to be the authority of the referee and assistants and the need for adjudication after the event.
If the referee is unsighted but suspects something has occurred then he should have the same powers as the Rugby League referees, that is to put the player on report for review after the game. This review should take place at the earliest opportunity and a decision made.
To put any player in the same position as Martin Johnson is ludicrous given the facilities available.
It's not for the "Old boys" at the RFU to pontificate it's up to the players and officials involved in the game.

[Sorry Fosse, had to edit the asterisked word, as it could have been profanity, which you're probably aware that we don't allow - if you want to respond to this, please PM me - Templar ]

[ 03-11-2002: Message edited by: TemplarLLM ]

Admittedly, to his credit he did own up and apologise, but he should never have lost his temper and lashed out in the first place. Youngsters look up to him and he ought to set them a better example.

Skeptic, I agree. And what's more we lost against France...if Johnson hadn't played the team might have felt hard done by and had a bit more spirit. Having said that I have to admit France were on super form.

Whilst agreeing with all the comments made, and having played sports for most of my life, I have to go to a quote from a referee to a player with two black eyes, winded, scraped shins and a dead leg -
"If you do that again I'll send you off"

Meaning the ref had seen the player was the one who started it - not the one who finished it!!

Hey, have the English team posed nude for calendars too? The French have, and well, hubba hubba...
Now they are on postcards!

I thought they played very well, I actually watched it for once.

Good Gosh, Bruyere - What the dickens do you mean? Just not the done thing don't you know. I can well believe it of those French chappies - just what we'd expect from them.

Seriously, as far as I am aware there is no nude England Rugby calendar - although I am aware of one produced by a women's Rugby club side and indeed one was produced by a branch of the Women's Institute! (not that that has anything to do with football).

I heard the Fire Brigades were doing it for fundraising so why not the sports teams?
I'll tell you, despite all their bruises and scratches and broken bones, they are fine specimens of masculinity!
The women around the office were all sending each other their photos at Christmas.

You're right - a number of Fire Brigades do produce calendars mainly to raise money for their charity in the UK - the Fire Services Benevolent Fund - and very popular they are too. But this could raise a whole new topic - there are a number of such calendars around in my office building yet calendars/photographs/posters of scantily clad women are banned. Double standards or sauce for the goose?

I don't know about the England Team but for the ladies
try http://www.smoothlydoesit.com/rugby/officialbeer.htm

Check out the downloadable wallpapers.

Very sporting of you Fosse!