Now before people think this is asking for players twitters names it's not.

I happen to follow Jamie Foster and Sunday night was shocked to read a tweet slagging off a Amatuer referee for "robbing the team he supports and being one of the worse he's ever seen".
Is it just me or is this out of order considering the RFL are looking to increase match officials numbers and have a good respect policy, it's hardly the best example from one of our supposed up and coming stars of our sport!!!

Pro RL player in ill-considered Tweet shock!

Or not, as the case may be.

So because he's Jamie Foster he's not entitled to his opinion, Horse !!

No. Because he's a pro rugby league player he is supposed to abide by the rules of the sport. Which include not bringing the game into disrepute.

Silly boy. Shouldn't be getting so worked up over an amateur game anyway.

Forget following rugby players, get following @petermerrickuk !

Is it an offence? No

Should he be doing it? Probably not.

Will anything happen to him? Probably not, at the most maybe a warning.

I've not seen the tweet so can't really pass much comment but as long as there was nothing offensive in, I doubt anything will come of it

Why not? Just because it's not professional does that make supporting it any different? No it doesn't, people who play and watch the amateur game watch exactly the same sport as Super League.

I'd argue amateur supporters are far more passionate and loyal than SL supporters, its far easier to support the likes of Wigan, Saints, Warrington and Leeds rather than your local amateur team.

But he's supposed to be a role model. And being a young, talented player with a hint of good looks and potential for a great future, (I hated typing that!) he is a massive role model.

What? You seriously think that amateur games should be played and watched in the same way as professional games? Why on earth would you think that? They are completely different with completely different aims and objectives. At pro level the 1st, 2nd & 3rd objectives are to win. That's it. Nothing else, maybe a couple of clubs aim to entertain as well as win but the main aim is def to win.
At amateur level the aim should be to enjoy the game, it shouldn't (but sadly is in too many cases) be to win. Winning at amateur level should be a nice bonus, not the be and all and end all since the aim of the amateur game is to increase participation and enjoyment. Getting so worked up that you're whinging about a ref on twitter in an amateur game is just silly.

You might be right, they're very passionate. Especially while they're getting tanked up and swearing on the sidelines. The amateur game doesn't need passion it needs enjoyment to try and get rid of the pathetic, aggressive "passionate" atmosphere that puts off so many from participating in amateur rugbg league.

The very slightest suggestion of vaguist of whiff of hints...

Sounds like you've been going to the wrong clubs.

Over the last few years I'll probably have been to most clubs out of the Yorkshire League, Pennine League & National Conference. Sadly there has been an all too common theme prevalent at the vast majority of the games I've attended. And it is THE most common reason given to me when I ask parents why their kids have dropped out of RL or indeed why they themselves do not participate.

Completely different to anything I've experienced here in sunny Lancashire and Cheshire. Of course, you get the odd set of idiots but generally it's a great atmosphere.

Going back to the OP, technically he is in breach of the RFL's RESPECT policy whether anything will be said to him though is a different matter

I think it's going to be bit hard to ping Foster given it's on social media unless the RFL has guidelines for players who post on Twitter, Facebook etc. Perhaps it is something that individuals clubs should be looking at rather than the sport as a whole because they would be the ones taking action if a player said something about the club. Therefore it makes sense for clubs to managing this process not the RFL. The RFL can apply pressure to clubs but ultimately I think the management of it should be down to clubs because it is just as much in their interests as it is the sports.

I think the RFL could still punish him, in the same way as if he said anything in a tv interview.

Its not worthy of any punishment, just a quiet word from someone at the club telling him to be careful of what he posts in public.

The precedent though is for the club to deal with it i.e. Cockayne, not the RFL.

WTW has a code of conduct for players that sits alongside their contract of employment; it contains guidelines about use of social media.

A quick delve into the Twitter feed of RL players throws up some singularly unsavoury stuff; for example:



Some of these idiots need to be protected from themselves, and that's before one considers the damage to the reputation of the clubs they are associated with.

The problem is that most rugby players and football players for that matter are as thick as two short planks and would either be in jail or on the dole if they weren't sportsmen.

No doubt some would, but to dismiss the majority as thick and useless is a bit silly and unfair.

Ok. There are a large number.

Back on the OP what would be happening if he said that about one of the current full time muppets, I mean officials after a match in which he appeared?

He'd be fined as there's something about that in the operational rules I believe