I support the decision to cancel Reeces's contract. In my view, we have seen the correct and proper outcome. I'd prefer not to see this person play for Connacht and I'm also OK with the fact that others mentioned earlier in this thread do not play for us any longer either.

"If Sevu Reece can't be the perfect role model for our children, then he doesn't deserve to be a professional sportsperson, Right ?"

He can surely be whatever he and other professional organisations believe they want him to be, but I'm comfortable that the authorities at Connacht Rugby think differently.

Sevu scored twice in waitako big win vs Northland just now.
A lot of papers were saying how has this guy left NZ rugby, going to Ireland when a super rugby team should of picked him up. Well I hope someone comes along and get there second chance.
I wish him all the best. Can’t believe we letting this guy go, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for his career

theCulk wrote: Only right. We don't need the shit storm that would follow

The IRFU had no other option but to cancel his contract due to the court of social media, but that does not make it right.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/connacht-...the-agenda-1.3652155

Luckily DRMcC only had to face a disciplinary hearing following his actions in the game against Leinster. If his fate hung on a verdict from social Media, he'd probably never play again.

And what does it say about all of us perfect people, that nobody has ever expressed even the slightest concern over the probable knock on effects on Sevu Reece's family due to the loss of earnings from cancelling his contract. Why should we care about people we don't know living on the other side of the world. I mean I'f they're not perfect, they don't deserve to live among us anyway. And if Sevu Reece can't be the perfect role model for our children, then he doesn't deserve to be a professional sportsperson, Right ?

www.independent.ie/news/ian-odoherty-its...-yours-36798537.html

Conan O'Donnell starting at tighthead for the Eagles.

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-eagles-tea...or-visit-of-cardiff/

This rather suggests that we won't be bringing in a TH, either as a replacement NIE in place of Reece, or as short-term cover for Robertson-McCoy.

Only right. We don't need the shit storm that would follow

Connacht pull the plug on move for Fijian winger after domestic violence court case the42.ie/4267845

6 week suspension for Dominic Robertson McCoy

sea_point wrote: I believe he would not fail Garda vetting to coach, nor have trouble with visas for SA (and UK?) as he hasn't actually been convicted of anything...

It doesn't really matter what you (or I) believe. In addition to convictions the Garda process includes non-conviction information concerning children or other vulnerable individuals. In New Zealand responses to vetting requests include all charges (including those discharged without conviction) & any other dealings with the police the person being vetted has had (which seems over the top but that's a civil liberties issue for another day/forum).

The process for visa requests from foreign countries to NZ authorities returns the same information. I wouldn't have mentioned it if there was some doubt on this subject.

salmson wrote:

sea_point wrote: ...I also fail to see why Connacht should punish themselves for something the player did...

Fair point, but the other side of that coin is that Connacht is a professional sports franchise, not a family support project.
I'd contend Connacht Rugby for the individual young players is more day to day than just an employer or sports organisation, and the program that Academy players participate in is as much about personal development as it is about on field activities i.e. skills, fitness etc. Lads coming in are just schoolkids with some Rugby skills, and they are being developed to deal with an awful lot more than taking a hit from a professional opponent...

The second chance argument is fair: asides from finding someone without sin to cast stones, he's little more than a child, and was a child when he was exported to a foreign country on a sports scholarship/traineeship. We've seen plenty of similar cases with the 90%+ of teenage Irish soccer exports who fail to make the grade in English soccer factories.

Equally fair are questions like: do Connacht have any business employing someone who would fail Garda vetting to coach, who may have trouble with visas for SA (and UK?) games going forward, who will cause reputational damage if he re-offends (and perhaps has already even if he doesn't), and who has likely crossed the threshold for termination under the IRFU's disrepute clauses (he's admitted his guilt)?
I believe he would not fail Garda vetting to coach, nor have trouble with visas for SA (and UK?) as he hasn't actually been convicted of anything...

Regardless, I think we're all stacking angels on pinheads here. If Connacht were keeping him I expect we'd have heard by now. The (near) radio-silence is reminiscent of that while the ts were crossed and is dotted during KK's removal, and it's highly unlikely that both Fallon & Thornbury would be wrong.

Just two points to clear up there...
Connacht Rugby will decide how they proceed anyway, and life will go on too....

RRr1 - there were comments on Twitter post game saying DRmcC shouldn't player ever again for Connacht (I believe some were Connacht fans).
I think that was what was being referred to... (I don't agree, feck sake likes of the Peter Clohessy and Quinlan were liginds down south for far worse )

connemara man wrote: The defence of these actions baffles me TBH
people here and elsewhere were happy to see a player not play for Connacht after stamping on a prone player yet seem ok with someone who if it wasn't for his position as a rugby player would have been convicted of domestic abuse and violence.
All this after two players at another province contracts were rightly cancelled after their actions led to a court case and even though they were acquitted of all charges lost their jobs in Ireland.

I'm honestly disappointed

If your going to quote other people, at least try and get it right. To the best of my knowledge, nobody said they "were happy to see a player not play for Connacht after stamping on a prone player". I believe that the opinion of everyone of those who commented on the incident was that it was stupid and wrong (A sentiment the player himself probably felt in the moments that followed the incident). He let himself and the team down and everybody who commented stated that he fully deserves the punishment that's undoubtedly heading his way. I don't remember anyone suggesting his contract should be terminated or that he was no longer a fit "Role Model" (Code for the complete abdication of responsibility of parents for properly fulfilling that role themselves) for Connacht Rugby. He expressed remorse and shame for his actions and he contacted JVDF on several occasions afterwards to apologise and to ensure he was o.k. I haven't heard him try to excuse his actions in any way and I'm fairly sure he's fully prepared to accept the consequences of his actions. He's still the same imperfect flawed human we all cheered on before Saturday. Like the rest of us, it probably won't be the last mistake he makes in his life but should he repeat this particular one, then his professional rugby career will probably be over before long.

I only know the bits and pieces that have been written on this forum about Sevu Reece's actions but it would appear that he too has accepted total responsibility for his actions and has expressed complete remorse and shame. To the best of my knowledge, he never tried to excuse his actions and plead guilty in court which would indicate his readiness to accept whatever consequences followed. Nobody here including me has the first clue about what kind of person Sevu Reece is.

We are all flawed imperfect beings. No matter how well intentioned we are we f**k up, make mistakes and do things that are totally at odds with our true characters. All we can hope for is that when the time comes we own our mistakes, learn from the and become better people going forward.

connemara man wrote: The defence of these actions baffles me TBH
people here and elsewhere were happy to see a player not play for Connacht after stamping on a prone player yet seem ok with someone who if it wasn't for his position as a rugby player would have been convicted of domestic abuse and violence.
All this after two players at another province contracts were rightly cancelled after their actions led to a court case and even though they were acquitted of all charges lost their jobs in Ireland.

I'm honestly disappointed

No one in here has defended his actions, it goes without saying that domestic abuse is something that is implicitly wrong.

If anyone on this forum said they want McCoy to never play for us again I missed it but I also would be against that.

The Jackson and Olding case, and it's fallout, was so complicated that going over it here would be pointless but they did not have their contracts cancelled, they had them paid off.

And I'm so sorry if some of us disappoint you but I find it much better to live in the real world than to tut from an ivory tower.

Well summed up salmson.
Another consideration, to which you previously alluded, is, given the option, would we be better off signing an NIQ player in another position?
From where I'm sitting it doesn't seem as if the wing is where the greatest need is, though of course it all depends on the mid-season market (and a couple of injuries could have me eating my words), but if a good prop became available at short notice, might that be a better investment?

The defence of these actions baffles me TBH
people here and elsewhere were happy to see a player not play for Connacht after stamping on a prone player yet seem ok with someone who if it wasn't for his position as a rugby player would have been convicted of domestic abuse and violence.
All this after two players at another province contracts were rightly cancelled after their actions led to a court case and even though they were acquitted of all charges lost their jobs in Ireland.

I'm honestly disappointed

sea_point wrote: ...I also fail to see why Connacht should punish themselves for something the player did...

Fair point, but the other side of that coin is that Connacht is a professional sports franchise, not a family support project.

The second chance argument is fair: asides from finding someone without sin to cast stones, he's little more than a child, and was a child when he was exported to a foreign country on a sports scholarship/traineeship. We've seen plenty of similar cases with the 90%+ of teenage Irish soccer exports who fail to make the grade in English soccer factories.

Equally fair are questions like: do Connacht have any business employing someone who would fail Garda vetting to coach, who may have trouble with visas for SA (and UK?) games going forward, who will cause reputational damage if he re-offends (and perhaps has already even if he doesn't), and who has likely crossed the threshold for termination under the IRFU's disrepute clauses (he's admitted his guilt)?

Regardless, I think we're all stacking angels on pinheads here. If Connacht were keeping him I expect we'd have heard by now. The (near) radio-silence is reminiscent of that while the ts were crossed and is dotted during KK's removal, and it's highly unlikely that both Fallon & Thornley would be wrong.

@Newname: Even though I quoted you I didn't specifically mean you, it was more an overarching point about the "I'd never want a player like that at my club".
I have good friends, that I've known for a long time, in trouble for acts that I know are so far removed from their personality that it's nearly unbelievable, but it happens as people are human and make mistakes and if everyone took the approach that they do towards players they would never be employed again.

Making a mistake does not make someone a bad person.

Also I meant "Christian" more as the values associated with the religion (mainly forgiveness) rather than the religion itself.

Edit: I'm quite anti organised religion myself but that does not mean some of the teachings of those religions aren't something we should strive for

Seems odd to see Christianity mentioned on the Clan Forum. I'm sure not all Connacht fans are Christians. At least I don't think that's a prerequisite to supporting the club. I'm atheist for the record.