Anger as Lomu’s sons front France WCup bid
World Rugby slams calls for tackling ban in schools
WELLINGTON, Sept 26, (AFP): New Zealand sporting pundits on Tuesday accused French rugby officials of exploiting the late All Black great Jonah Lomu’s young sons to promote their bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
In a surprise move, the French team produced Lomu’s two boys at a function in London on Monday featuring presentations from the rival bidders for the tournament. The French rugby federation flew seven-year-old Dhyreille and Brayley, eight, over from New Zealand with their mother Nadene for the event.
TVNZ described the pair sitting “awkwardly” on former France winger Sebastien Chabal’s knee as he explained why they were backing the bid.
While the links may appear tenuous, Fairfax New Zealand rugby writer Tony Smith conceded Lomu, the sport’s first global superstar who died after years of battling kidney disease, was revered in France and many other parts of the rugby world.
But he questioned the ethics of France using two primary school-age boys, who lost their father less than two years ago, as the face of their bid.
Smith said their involvement “run(s) the risk of being accused of a word common to the English and French languages: exploitation”.
Lomu
He suggested the numerous ex-All Blacks currently plying their trade in France, including the legendary Dan Carter, would have been better bid ambassadors.
Radio Sport NZ host Martin Devlin had similar concerns. He added: “If you’ve got a seven and eight-year-old you’re exploiting them is what you’re doing.” in Ireland, which along with South Africa is also bidding for the 2023 tournament.
Meanwhile, world Rugby chiefs have slammed a controversial study that claims tackling and scrums should be banned in schools.
Allyson Pollock and Graham Kirkwood from the Institute of Health at Newcastle University argue that most injuries in youth rugby occur due to the collision elements of the game.
Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), they said that ministers should “put the interests of the child before those of corporate professional rugby unions”.
Removing collisions from school rugby is likely to “reduce and mitigate the risk of injury” in pupils, they said.