Interference with players/disciplinary issues

I came across this disciplinary matter from the Ampthill v Cambridge game, has anyone else ever seen a ball boy interfere with play before, and get pushed over for their troubles? Bizarre really, but to be fair I can imagine the frustration that the Cambridge hooker felt. Certainly an unusual one!

Edited by Se7en - 26 Oct 2023 at 20:24

Robb wrote: Reminds me of that time when that Chelsea footballer manhandled and kicked at that Swansea ballboy.

Thinking that myself when I read it - I believe he was also banned

Se7en wrote: I came across this disciplinary matter from the Ampthill v Cambridge game, has anyone else ever seen a ball boy interfere with play before, and get pushed over for their troubles? Bizarre really, but to be fair I can imagine the frustration that the Cambridge hooker felt. Certainly an unusual one! https://www.championshiprugby.co.uk/news/article/cambridge-disciplinary-202324?fbclid=IwAR08DvGY-GIRn6LH_HTLZytjPlyLgJR3vc-LGZCPU2ieCmVZ5ZtOfjajiUY Perhaps matches at this level should be supported with ball boys from both clubs taking part on match day, for more parity. It isn't something I've ever thought about before.

It would be interesting to know if the ball boys had been instructed to do that. Either way, not on.

Ball boy chucked the ball away.

Ideally the hooker's ire should have been focussed on the person, likely outside of the field of play, that told the kid to do it.

Not condoning Ben Brownlies actions here, we should expect mischievous behaviour and sometimes a degree of petulance from 11 year old boys, (traits common with a few hookers i used to know), but...ballboys/girls interfering with play is not within the spirit of the game.  I see that Cambridge have sent the little imp a gift voucher.  Isn't that rewarding bad behaviour?

HookerPaul wrote: Not condoning Ben Brownlies actions here, we should expect mischievous behaviour and sometimes a degree of petulance from 11 year old boys, (traits common with a few hookers i used to know), but...ballboys/girls interfering with play is not within the spirit of the game.  I see that Cambridge have sent the little imp a gift voucher.  Isn't that rewarding bad behaviour?

Unless I have missed something, I haven't seen anyone making excuses for what the Cambridge hooker did or condoing his actions, moreover the majority of posters have actually considered the bigger picture and looked at the incident from both sides.

WEvans wrote: For me you handle bad behaviour of an adult and an eleven year-old child differently. From what I gather the child was assaulted by the adult who has rightly been punished. Giving the child a voucher as compensation for the upset caused by the assault is fine as long as it is explained to him that his behaviour was also wrong. If the ball boy was an adult I would have a different opinion.