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England prop courts controversy with social media posts on latest UK lockdown measures

20 Dec 2020

Alec Hepburn (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England prop Alec Hepburn has courted controversy after criticising the UK government over the imminent return to Tier 4 lockdown for certain areas of the country, claiming that the regime were using ‘force and coercion to manipulate the public into compliance’.

Hepburn’s Instagram post divided opinions, with plenty lending their support to the post, while others condemned it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alec Hepburn (@alechepburn)
What life is like in Japan for pro rugby players:
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What life is like in Japan for pro rugby players:

“As someone who plays sport for a living I feel my opinion is no better or worst than those of any other walks of life. I voice my opinion privately to friends and family but often choose not to publicly. I feel strongly on the issue regarding tonight’s announcements and the policies implemented throughout 2020. Speaking as a citizen of the United Kingdom, I feel these orders by decree, placing unjustified duress on many is tantamount to abuse on the British public.

“This government uses force and coercion to manipulate the public into compliance. The public is talked down to, the public is blamed for increases in restrictions and the public is emotionally blackmailed with compliance or you will be killing people. This government does not represent the great values of this great nation, being freedom and individual liberty.

“There is no higher claim to one’s safety than that of the individual, only you can negotiate the trials and tribulations of life and the risk it presents to yourself. I write this not to merely share an opinion on the matter but encourage others to think critically and evaluate the role of government and the bad precedents being set,” the Exeter Chiefs’ prop concluded.

Fellow England and Exeter Chiefs’ player Jack Nowell was among a number of players who supported the sentiment and himself to took to Twitter to post: “Sacrifice your summer to save Christmas” with a Pinocchio emoji:

“Sacrifice your summer to save Christmas” 🤥
— Jack Nowell (@nowellsy15) December 19, 2020

It was not a view shared by everyone. Scotland scrum-half took the polar opposite views on the matter: “Bet 98% of the people moaning about going back to tier 4 are the same people that are going against the guidance anyway and wonder why nothing is improving. We’re all fed up but the virus can’t keep spreading if we just keep to ourselves. #rocketscience”

https://twitter.com/AlistairPrice/status/1340362859302313985

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Comments on RugbyPass

MS 23 minutes ago

Andy Farrell answers burning Owen Farrell Lions question

I can understand negotiations for Kinghorn, White, and Ribbans. All three are playing very, very well at the current time. Kinghorn has been a leading contended for some time now; Ribbans looks as powerful as he’s ever been; while on the evidence of the most recent Six Nations, White benches behind JGP at Scrumhalf.

However, noone in their right mind should be considering Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, nor Owen Farrell. Sinckler looks unfit and can barely move around the field with any great urgency. He would be a liability on tour to Australia. Lawes is clearly ‘enjoying life’ in ProD2, and his rugby looks every bit second tier level now.

As for Farrell, not only has he been plagued by poor form and injury since moving to Racing, even the much vaunted ‘kicking record’ has long since been debunked as a USP with a percentage that simply does not stand up to scrutiny. That leaves only the intangible (desperate…) claim he would add ‘leadership’, which in a Lions squad resplendent with talent and international caps is I’m afraid, much like Farrell, a complete non-starter.

Willis is the elephant in the room…a leader and standout option for one of the best club teams in the World. Yet still a relative unknown at Test Match level. I could well see him being included on the tour - and it would prove quite the headache for the RFU if he delivers. But Back Row is so competitive across all three positions, and with genuine World Class talent there too. I’m just not sure the Lions need him.

2 Go to comments

CV 27 minutes ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Football always had ‘detached’ leagues. So do most other sports. Unions or federations never dictated who plays and how often like in NZ. Would be unheard of. You need independent clubs that really compete with each other in NZ but that would never happen because NZR would have to relinquish control over players. Rugby’s model is an exception in professional sport, not the rule.

SA in the 6N? Never. Most want promotion/relegation to the REC and many want to keep it as it is. Much better for the game here when countries can finally get into the 6N. It will lead to more investment in REC nations because they can finally get ahead. Tier 1 nations do very little to grow the game outside their countries.

SA should grow the game in Africa. Plenty of potential there.

95 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Touring NZ is a golden opportunity for every one of the French players that take the field to nail themselves into the squad. What better opportunity is there than to stand out for all the right reasons than a Test match in NZ? Any that manage to achieve that will only enhance the pool of talent available for ‘27.

95 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

NZR knew exactly when the Top14 final was when they signed the tour contract.

95 Go to comments

CN 1 hour ago

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Lovely, lovely player. At her peak she was dynamic and difficult and always played with a smile. You got the feeling that as well as her teammates the opposition also respected her.

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Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Partially correct. NZ needs to get on with being the lead in developing the Pacific 6N and monetising Japan - and developing their competitiveness. That will enable all the financial support you mention.

As for France, it’s not about “caring”, it’s about money and the club owners provide their money to drive their club agenda. Period. French rugby is a beast and your JIFF point is well made but SA is a beast also that’s now awake and England is a sleeping beast that is financially stricken. SA will make up a 7N and that will drive all 3 to new levels. The Irish, Scottish and welsh clubs are all union owned and will continue to struggle keeping up but the 7N revenue boost will help, as the SA involvement in the URC is doing currently.

EPL is entirely different, football has followed its own path in allowing the league to detach and is an extreme example of what happens when the clubs are allowed to call the shots across the board. Not a path that rugby will follow fortunately.

95 Go to comments

CN 2 hours ago

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I’m not sure many agree with you on this one, Rugby Pass made her their player of the match last week and the comments on the BBC website, although mixed, were lauding her attributes. Her running lines are really good and incisive, very good passing range and her defence is better than ok. I do like her as an option and she would probably go to the RWC as a specialist FB and understudy. EK struggled against Canada at WXV because they doubled up on her every time and took away her space, why not give teams something different to defend?

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DH 2 hours ago

Andy Farrell answers burning Owen Farrell Lions question

Kinghorn and Willis should join after the Top14 final. O Farrell has been average all year and RC92 wants rid of him, he has no pace and is too dominant a character (like Ford) without the skills to back it up. Take the two Finns and Blair Kinghorn and all will be good.

2 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Started well but wobbled when you mentioned Irish club money (it’s all union owned with state help) and lost it completely talking about offshore accounts.

That said, NZ have been phenomenally good at what they’ve done but it’s become a lot more difficult to be out in front and that isn’t going to change for them. They need to focus on the pacific 6N and monetise Japan but SA are the powerhouse and will stay that way when they monetise their certain involvement in a 7N comp, which will also boost English and French resources!

95 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

No I don’t. Point me to any discontent from the French about this? Sure the players have understandably said they’d love to go but that’s the sum total of it on the NH side. Everyone understands the decision making dynamic and the factors driving it. As you’ve already conceded above, NZR were also aware of exactly what was coming.

95 Go to comments

BC 2 hours ago

Morgane Bourgeois’ Women's Six Nations notebook: The first edition

Interesting comment from Pauline Bourdon that France would have lost that match at WXV1. Does that mean that France have recovered their mojo and are once again potential worldbeaters?

1 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 2 hours ago

'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Cooperation would be an interesting description of that relationship, the power sits with the money and that’s the club owners.