Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Midweek Madness

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Midweek Madness - Lou Reed penalised for shouting

There was a case of ungentlemanly conduct in the Magners League in Llanelli on the weekend, as Scarlets lock Lou Reed was penalised for shouting at opposing Ulster wing Andrew Trimble in an attempt to put him off his kick.

When you hear about this you’d naturally presume that what happened is someone was taking a kick at goal and the shouting had put him off, which has been penalised before. In fact it was nothing like that at all, but more along the lines of the bizarre.

From the footage it’s hard to make out what Reed was shouting, but according to the touch judge it was against the spirit of the game, so he drew the referee’s attention to it, resulting in the penalty.

A lot of things happen on the rugby field these days, and fans all seem to interpret them differently. Many feel that professionalism has changed the game for the worse, and that the age old principles of the gentleman’s game have been lost forever.

There are calls to clamp down on many elements of play when it comes to ill-discipline. The people in charge are doing what they can, and thanks to citing commissions and television analysis, the wrong doers aren’t getting away with what they perhaps used to.

Rugby has changed over time. Players are now bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. The game is quicker thanks to advances in equipment, new tactics, and subtle tweaks in the laws.

The game is pushing forward at a rate of knots, but along the way perhaps something is being forgotten, and that is that rugby is built on a foundation of sportsmanship, pride in ones jersey, and mutual respect.

Lou Reed was made an example of and this shows us that maybe we need to take a step back to continue moving forward. Sportsmanship is a core value that mustn’t be forgotten along the way, and the fact that Reed was picked out for this will go a long way.

Either it’s that, or it was just an absolutely ridiculous penalty. You decide.

Time: 01:56

Hah that's hilarious. Touch judge definitely wanted his 15 seconds of fame.

Good to eradicate unsportsmanlike behaviour though.

By Scotsdale, at March 10, 2010 2:52 pm
Clearly that was why Trimble made a balls of the kick... *ahem*

Roll on penalties for farting in scrums.

By Mike, at March 10, 2010 2:55 pm
I actually enjoy this call, as this sport is about respect, even to the enemy.

By Douglas, at March 10, 2010 3:00 pm
Rather ridiculous in my opinion. Depends on what he was screaming though. If we talk about sportsmanship and being a gentleman and all people tend to forget what rugby was like back in the day. The games were much more "unfair" than these days. You rarely see stamping or big fights anymore which is a good thing. It still remarkable to see that all of the players give their respect to the other game after a game so I don't see any trend to unsportmanlike behaviour lately.

By Thomas, at March 10, 2010 3:03 pm
<>

I love it. This law (and its application) is the difference between rugby and so many other codes.

I hope it never goes away.

Next step -- stamping out the pre-try celebration antics of the Bryan Habanas of the world. A big try in a big game deserves celebration. But when you score 1-2 a game, and you swan dive as if you won the World Cup....

By cheyanqui, at March 10, 2010 3:07 pm
Penalise the All Blacks and Pacific Islanders for shouting and pulling their tongues out before a game!

I hope somebody told Lou Reed's mum about his behaviour.....
She will need to apologise to Andrew Trimble's mother.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 3:25 pm
Clearly Lou Reeds' mother was not a Velvet Undergrund fan

By JPM, at March 10, 2010 4:02 pm
I remember seeing this and laughing uncontrolably for 5 mins after this.

Also rugbydump any chance of putting up scarlets latest star in their scrum half factory, ahem ladies and gentlemen i introduce to you "Tavis Knoyle".Future Great!

By Abs7, at March 10, 2010 4:15 pm
Seems like a very childish thing to do. Presumably was spur of the moment, but I bet he's embarrassed about it now.

By Phil, at March 10, 2010 4:49 pm
Trimble can't kick for shit

By Darren, at March 10, 2010 4:51 pm
WTF

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 5:16 pm
As a referee I agree 100% with this, I ref a lot of underage games and the amount of back chat and trash talking amongst players is ridiculous, this is not soccer or GAA; I think if we can get youngsters to focus on the traditional values of the game then what harm is there?

By ConnachtFan, at March 10, 2010 5:17 pm
Fucking stupid decision. It's no wonder Rugby is struggle to get new fans when such idiotic rulings are part of our game.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 5:18 pm
Yeah, Anonymous, THAT'S why rugby has trouble getting new fans (where do you get that idea, by the way, when every match I go to is full of people being exposed to the game). We all know that if players were allowed to bitch and moan to the referee like they are in soccer, this could be quite the popular sport.

I was happy to see Munster get penalised for talking back against the Dragons as well. I am through and through a Munster fan but I can't stand it when they think they can talk back to the referee.

This was a slight bit ridiculous, but one of the first things we learned when we started playing rugby was that should not so much as speak to the referee or touch judges if you're not the captain.

By Mickey, at March 10, 2010 5:37 pm
Just to clarify, I was speaking more to back-talk than to "yelling" at the opposition. This was certainly something new, but like others have said, it's good to clamp down on unsportsmanlike behavior, whatever it is.

By Mickey, at March 10, 2010 5:41 pm
I, and Setanta Ireland have a rather different interpretation of this than the rest of you seem to. Trimble's sliced kick went out of play and the touch judge called a lineout but then the ball came back into play before bouncing. Having already called a line-out the touch judge had to do something to pretend that he hadn't called a lineout so he made up this crap about ungentlemanly conduct.

By Kearney for tests, at March 10, 2010 5:48 pm
I agree with Mickey.

The increasing instances of players falling down like extras in Platoon, gesturing to referees for yellow cards, etc is something I find quite worrying.

By playing to the letter of the law in relation to gentlemanly conduct at the highest level the same standards should remain at grass roots too, so I see this penalty as a positive call, not one by an embarrassed or over zealous touch judge.

By DannyDC, at March 10, 2010 6:28 pm
This was a slight bit ridiculous, but one of the first things we learned when we started playing rugby was that should not so much as speak to the referee or touch judges if you're not the captain.

........

We're talking about players shouting at each other. Nothing to do with abusing the referee.

Sledging opposition is a key component of all team sports.

To penalise somebody for shouting is fucking retarded.

It's absolute stupidity. Of course players must respect the referee. Verbally respecting other players though? Give me a break.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 6:31 pm
Also why some of you are linking this to soccer player behavour is beyond me.

Rugby league players sledge and shout at each other all the time. I've never in my life seen a league player go down like a hollywood actor, or disrespect the referee for that matter.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 6:32 pm
Christ on a bike, I can't believe that some of you agree with this penalty. You have no idea what was being shouted by Reed, but players do many things to put each other off on the rugby field, certaily yelling as an opponent is putting in a clearance kick is pretty low in the scale of things!

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 6:57 pm
Oh, come on, pleople.
How can we talk about the good old days of chivalry and compare it to nowadays? Doesn't anyone remember the fights that usually broke out or the "special codes" people had to start punching to disrupt the oponent's concentration (i.e. B&I Lions)?
Sure, there were loads of moments of chivalry and companionship, but they were due to each player's own conscience.
This new trend of penalizing everything is a bit ridiculous. Sure, if he overdoes it and is REALLY innapropriate, fine, do something about it, but shouting as he's charging down a kick?
Whats next, penalize farting in rucks (to whoever came up with that one, cheers, mate!)? As a second row, I'd really apreciate if front rowers would stop doing it, but its nuts!

I believe sportsmanship must be taught from the beggining to young players, not forced upon

Cheers from Portugal, RD

By Xavier, at March 10, 2010 7:10 pm
Great call I think!

When I was a teenager, I played rugby and soccer and it always amazed me how I'd see my mates shouting at the referee, cursing out loud etc. in a soccer game and then not a peep out of them in the rugby game, in the same weekend!

Part of it, I think is that younger age groups imitate the way professional players play (and dive/talk) and the other part is that rules, like the one above, help to discourage that sort of behaviour.

Great call

By Unknown, at March 10, 2010 7:21 pm
I think everyone has this wrong lads. I think it's for shouting abuse at the touch judge. If you listen to the touch judge at the start he clearly says "i put my flag up too early". I think Reed shouts at the touch judge and that's what he's being penalised for.

Just a theory so don't get all classic rugbydump agro on me.

By Rob, at March 10, 2010 7:34 pm
Actually just watched it again so never mind the above comment but can anyone tell my why the touch judge says I put my flag up too early? I think he jumped the gun thinking the ball was going miles out then had to come up with some reason for having it up.

By Rob, at March 10, 2010 7:37 pm
wonder if he got grounded?

By owain, at March 10, 2010 7:44 pm
seems pathetic. just a bit of harmless aggression.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 7:48 pm
funny.

thought it was trimble taking a penalty but.... lolz

By b, at March 10, 2010 8:03 pm
absolute bollox gone the days were u could meake your apponent cry by physically and mentally dominating

Dont give up screaming man bad call by a little faggot touch judge

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 8:22 pm
This happens everyday in Super 14. Thats taking the piss really

By hakametal, at March 10, 2010 8:22 pm
hmmmm, as much as promoting sportsmen like conduct i think this is a little weak.....

In my eyes penalties for shouting:
~Player shouts at ref - Penalty
~Player shouts at touch judge - Penalty
~Player shouts at kicker taking shot at goal - Penalty

but just shouting is a bit odd for a penalty, i think if he got a warning maybe that could be about as far as it should go....

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 9:36 pm
"CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 10:33 pm
Ridiculous penalty.
You can't penalise someone for shouting.
Insane.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 11:42 pm
So what law is this violating in the rugby law book? Anyone know specifically? 'Not in the spirit of the game' or something? Didn't think they had that one anymore... Also the reason why you can't run over the top of a scrum I think... Anyone?

By Ryan, at March 10, 2010 11:43 pm
Xavier is right, there wasn't some bloody golden age when rugby players were pure and morally upright.
It's a load of bullshit, there was always gamesmenship and cheating, in fact there was probably more back in the day.

By Anonymous, at March 10, 2010 11:48 pm
I think its a good call & should be made more often. If you can't respect your opposite number then you shouldnt be playing rugby, maybe soccer would suite ye better... Lou Reed what are you 5 years old? Shouting. If you want to 'put him off' smash him when he's on the ball.

By Caduceus, at March 11, 2010 1:16 am
I think it depends on what he was yelling. It looked like he was saying something that began with Fu... in which case I defer to the fella closest to the event.

I think it misses the point of rugby to say that it is "about" stuff like sledging your opponent and putting him off his kick by any means necessary

By robby, at March 11, 2010 2:57 am
sledging is one thing etc but this is different, sledging is the act of having a word with the your opposition number in the lineout and saying 'you're shit, im going to rule you all day, you wont catch one throw' etc etc....not really yelling your head off.....

tbh id rather seeing shouting kept to a minimum, rather than 30 blokes + subs all screaming at each other like footballers for 80 minutes....

By Jay, at March 11, 2010 3:01 am
Yes, well done touchie, shouting could lead to pushing, shoving and even bumping. Best nip this in the bud.

I reckon Trimble and his mates were absolutely pissing themselves laughing about the penalty after the game.

The gentlemanly thing to do would be to decline the penalty... as long as Reed said he was sorry.

Northern hemisphere rugby has gone to the dogs (poodles, that is).

By Anonymous, at March 11, 2010 3:40 am
This clip's been taken out of context: the touch judge was giving a ridiculous penalty to cover up the fact he called for a lineout too early.

Trimble kicked the ball to the line, and the curl on the ball meant it actually flew out over the touchline but curled back in and actually landed in-field. But the touch-judge had already raised his flag for a lineout. When the referee asked him what the decision was he gave a lame penalty to Ulster. Probably the best thing to do, although it might have been better if he admitted his mistake and gave a scrum to Ulster to restart the game.

If you even look at the clip you can see Lou Reed isn't even shouting anything coherent, he's just screaming at Trimble. If I'm wrong and the touchjudge was genuinely penalising him for that I reckon he needs to a reality check - a bit of shouting is hardly "ungentlemanly" conduct.

By UlsterFan, at March 11, 2010 4:16 am
"Northern hemisphere rugby has gone to the dogs (poodles, that is)."

Let's not make this a hemispherical matter, shall we?

I watched a two S14 matches in the first week that saw players carded or penalized for "spear tackles" even though they brought the player to the ground with the tackle (ie - not lifting and dropping).

Ridiculous as it may seem to some, it's not a "hemispherical bias"; you don't see Wayne Barnes or Nigel Owens giving the same call - though they are both good about keeping back-chat to a minimum.

By Stevers, at March 11, 2010 6:57 am
Stevers, mate, you just did it. :-)

More seriously (or not) it's a mixed feeling between finding this penalty a tad ridiculous and, at the same time, relishing the effort in keeping the expected level of sportsmanship. I really can't decide!

In any case: funny to watch. Thanks RD!

By Nico, at March 11, 2010 9:08 am
This was certainly not a "Perfect Day'.

It had to be done....

By Anonymous, at March 11, 2010 11:18 am
one of the things that sets professional rugby above many other sports is the respect shown, both to other players and the ref. slating and backchat should be kept to a minimum

By Anonymous, at March 11, 2010 11:39 am
I think the whole myth about rugby being gentlemanly is a just that, a myth.
There is less crap than there is in soccer, but alot more than golf or grass hockey.
Yelling at a guy is not a big deal, it's a sport where players a fired up.

By Anonymous, at March 11, 2010 11:45 am
It's not a myth^, or didn't used to be. I don't have a big a problem with punching or stamping as I do with guys pretending to be hurt, yelling at the refs, and dancing in the tryzone.

Over aggressive behavior is to me, much more acceptable than cynical fouls, disrespectful actions towards ANYONE, or drawing attention to yourself.

Punching someone is more sportsmanlike than yelling at a kicker on a conversion or not shaking hands.

By Rugbyisn'tfootball, at March 11, 2010 4:37 pm
THE MURMUR MYSTERY!!!

By ccroninmartin, at March 11, 2010 5:19 pm
'Punching someone is more sportsmanlike than yelling at a kicker on a conversion or not shaking hands.'

summed up in this phrase.....

By Anonymous, at March 11, 2010 8:37 pm
He was'nt even shouting AT him, he was shouting as he attempted to charge down the kick, the majority of players will shout as they charge a kicker or when they put preassure on an opposing player attempting to catch a high ball, Its just part of the game. And if you can be put off by someone shouting then your not really concentrating on what you are doing (hence the poor kick). Also, the crowd constantly shout, whats next yellow carding the crowd for being too noisey? I mean after all, if the scarlets fans shout too loud it might upset the other team!!!!!

By Simcool, at March 11, 2010 9:52 pm
i think maybe in England, where only upper-middle class people play the game you get this gentalmanley crap.
In alot of other countries, where everyone plays, it's a bit more hard-bitten.

By Anonymous, at March 11, 2010 10:55 pm
^I think maybe you're an idiot.

No one is saying that you're supposed to play a game of rugby then go have tea and crumpets with each other. Of course there is 'thuggery'. But behind it is a sense of mutual respect, and the sense that this is a man's game. Of course there's 'cheating', but no one ought to be taking dives and shouting at the officials.

I realize that's not what this clip was about, but that's what this thread has devolved into. As far as the incident goes, it's a bit on the ridiculous side, but who cares? It was the referee's (touch judge, rather) decision, so abide by it, move on, and play rugby.

I think it'd be better to err on the side of being too strict rather than letting too many things go.

Also, for what it's worth, I'm not an old nostalgic fart, here. I'm 22 and just started playing a few years ago, so it's not like I came before professionalism hit the game.

By felix, at March 11, 2010 11:29 pm
And I think that you're an areshole.
Funny how people say shit on the net they wouldn't say to someones face.
Anyway, in Australia, especially outside the GPS schools it's a tougher game, alot of crap goes on on the field, it's not all honor and some code of rugby ethics.
I'm aware that's the perception in some countries, like England, and it's because people are contrasting it with the soccer leagues in their country.
It's more that soccer has alot of stupid bullshit on the field, while rugby is like most other sports.

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2010 1:57 am
Felix, you got it my brother! BTW that guy didn't get a penalty for yelling, but for showing his messed up teeth. Yikes!

By Hootie!, at March 12, 2010 3:02 am
'i think maybe in England, where only upper-middle class people play the game you get this gentalmanley crap.
In alot of other countries, where everyone plays, it's a bit more hard-bitten.'

Nah felix is right, you are full of crap....

There is always gentlemanly conduct throughout games of rugby, thats why players have a beer with each other after a game...but i assume you are in one of those teams that gets shat on every weekend....then just resorts to throwing punches to prove how weak you are, then after having 2 or 3 players laughed off the pitch with their marching orders, you get another 4 or 5 tries heaped on you.....which is why you will always be that backward hick town that cries off on away matches!

By Anonymous, at March 12, 2010 3:59 am
I think thats his gumshield hootie, red and white stripes lol

By Simcool, at March 12, 2010 3:37 pm
stupid stupid stupid descision what r u meant to do out on the rugby field "hello dear sir what nice boots you have" farout thats pussy nerthern hemisphere refereeing

By Anonymous, at March 13, 2010 12:56 pm
Reply with this video when someone asks you "Why rugby is the greatest sport of the world?"
Great!

By Anonymous, at March 15, 2010 2:14 pm
Bullshit call, penalty for shouting?
load of bullshit.

By Anonymous, at March 16, 2010 7:14 am