If he makes a decision that the Connacht faithful disagrees with (which will happen), I wonder if he will be booed or shouted at with extra vigour? I would say that he will. should be interesting.

He will have to be completely honest or he should never be allowed to ref again.

Any news on Lams complaint?

Westie85 wrote: I actually think thats good for Connacht. He has to ref the game as fairly as possible as he knows his performance will be scrutinised more so than usual.

Agreed. A replacement ref might understandably close ranks and shaft us but Hodges will be in a world of pain with the assessors if he screws up again.

I actually think thats good for Connacht. He has to ref the game as fairly as possible as he knows his performance will be scrutinised more so than usual.

Hodges is confirmed as the ref for Saturday

Ger C wrote:

salmson wrote:

Magpie wrote: What happened to Nigel Owens?
I don't recall there being any contentions calls on Saturday.

Homophobic abuse on Twitter. Contentious call was the final scoreline, I think...

Correct, his private life should not be the subject of what he decides on the pitch. He is a fair ref and although I don't always agree he is the ref. Perhaps the offical clan should send him a message in support against abuse

I believe he is active on Twitter, if the Clan has a Twitter account it could be used to show homophobia will not be tolerated in the Clan.

Ger C wrote:

salmson wrote:

Magpie wrote: What happened to Nigel Owens?
I don't recall there being any contentions calls on Saturday.

Homophobic abuse on Twitter. Contentious call was the final scoreline, I think...

Correct, his private life should not be the subject of what he decides on the pitch. He is a fair ref and although I don't always agree he is the ref. Perhaps the offical clan should send him a message in support against abuse

He'll be visiting us soon. He is the man in the middle for our game vs ulster.

salmson wrote:

Magpie wrote: What happened to Nigel Owens?
I don't recall there being any contentions calls on Saturday.

Homophobic abuse on Twitter. Contentious call was the final scoreline, I think...

Correct, his private life should not be the subject of what he decides on the pitch. He is a fair ref and although I don't always agree he is the ref. Perhaps the offical clan should send him a message in support against abuse

Magpie wrote: What happened to Nigel Owens?
I don't recall there being any contentions calls on Saturday.

Homophobic abuse on Twitter. Contentious call was the final scoreline, I think...

Ger C wrote: By the way, the abuse Nigle Owens received on Sat was vile. He refed it as he saw it. I don't always agree with him but he is fair. I don't want any true Connacht supporter to engage in any kind of personal abuse. I am proud of how the players respect the ref and as was once said this is not soccer

What happened to Nigel Owens?
I don't recall there being any contentions calls on Saturday.

By the way, the abuse Nigle Owens received on Sat was vile. He refed it as he saw it. I don't always agree with him but he is fair. I don't want any true Connacht supporter to engage in any kind of personal abuse. I am proud of how the players respect the ref and as was once said this is not soccer

I personly am torn between the way i was always told never to criticise the ref and when something is blantent how to hold your tounge. I support Pat as he has shown great passion for Connacht but i don't know if a banner is the best idea, perhaps we could give him a round of applause or chant his name.

Craic Head wrote: Sorry, but......
.... Apologies if that is against the majority. Just what I think.

CH
This is what the forum is there for.
An opportunity for everyone to express their views and opinion.
The vast majority of users here are dedicated supporters of Pat and the team and just like society in general, they will react to things in different ways.
Look at the Water Charges for example, none of us like the idea but not all will actually take to the streets.
Personally I think we should do something tangible to show Pat, and the rest of Rugby, that we are behind him.
What he said, needed to be said, maybe in a different way and time, but the standard of some (and I did say SOME) of the officiating in the Pro 12 is absolute Crap and the official bodies in charge do not appear to want to do anything about that.
If you get renumeration for any task, you should be made accountability for the way you perform that task and the decision you make.

Sorry, but for me you don't need to put a banner out with words of support for Pat. He knows when fans are behind him and the team. He would want all the focus to be on supporting the team and not him. (Or he should)

Also, I have stated before that Pat should not have said what he did. He was not wrong but he should have stayed silent. He needs to set an example where discipline is concerned and the only outcome was a fine (not sure if it costs him personally or the provinces?). Bottom line for me is that I can't see what good comes out of his actions. Will refs react better towards us as a result of what he said? I think that he was angry when he said what he did, and you should not react like that in his position.

Apologies if that is against the majority. Just what I think.

connachtexile wrote:

Would you be allowed to put up a banner or would it be removed as soou as it would be unfurrled?

i think as long as it's a positive like 'We support Pat and Connacht' rather than "Down with Leighton Hodges" it should be fine. Go for subtext rather than out and out baldly stating something.

Agree,
Keep it positive.
Something like "The Clan is fully behind Pat"

Would you be allowed to put up a banner or would it be removed as soou as it would be unfurrled?

i think as long as it's a positive like 'We support Pat and Connacht' rather than "Down with Leighton Hodges" it should be fine. Go for subtext rather than out and out baldly stating something.