Official statement on the England RL website-

England Rugby League have issued the following statement.

“As a result of serious breaches of team discipline that have fallen below the strict code of conduct as agreed by team management, Gareth Hock has been withdrawn from the England Rugby League World Cup squad with immediate effect. He is replaced by Huddersfield Giants Brett Ferres.

"There will be no further comment issued by England Rugby League on this matter."

What a prat! The guys is a complete waste of space!

Not shocked. Should never have been near the squad.

Good luck to Ferres.

As I said on the other thread that is not an issue but if Graham and Hardarker withdraw that would be a problem. Indeed, I would seriously question the judgement of the coach in selecting him in the first place. It was IMO a ridiculous selection.

So come on.... Someone must know what he has done this time... Do tell!

So come on.... Someone must know what he has done this time... Do tell!

Ban him from RL, how many chances has this guy had.

The whole of English Rugby League must be totally shocked by this news.
Another selection masterstroke by McNamara!
It told you something when the RFL had to give his club in the listing as "Widnes"
As eveyone knows he's a Wigan registered player on loan at Widnes.
I wonder why Wigan didn't want him listed as one of their players?

No surprise ... the guy is tw*t. Shouldn't be allowed in the game whatsoever and shouldn't have been picked by McNamara.

Eh? Wigan have appeased and defended this bell-end for years.

This is hardly a surprise.

To be honest, I'm amazed that a man of Gareth Hock's mental capacity manages to tie his shoelaces every morning, so to expect that he can comprehend the privilege that it is to play for your country and a behave appropriately is optimistic at best.

He has had more than enough chances and he has had more help than he deserves. He's thrown that back in everybody's faces.

What happened?

Did he make a tackle against Italy?

Even on rugby grounds he shouldn't have been near the squad. When he was a kid I thought he'd be a great. But, IMO, he's never progressed and for every great moment he seems to make a couple of awful errors. THen there's the on field discipline issue. As I said, the coach made a howler IMO. I think it's improved the squad with him going.

Toxic.
Parramatta got out of jail when they let him go.....wonder of the Dr will rip up his contract?

Good....f*ck him, let him rot.

Rather have ferres, hock is a liability. Good news all round.

Got to disagree with parts of that, when he's on form he's devastating and could have caused Australia a lot of problems, sadly his head just isn't right at times and he's rightly been booted out the camp.

Ferres is a more than able replacement so were well covered.

How many chances does he deserve.

I think he is an amazing talent and when he's got his head screwed on and playing at his best he is up there with the best in the world imo. Unfortunately his lack of a brain has led to him missing out on so much. He's lost out on Wigans last 2 Challenge cup and Super League victorys mainly through suspension and now got kicked out of a World Cup Squad. I'd be amazed if his deal with salford doesn't fall through.

So nobody has heard anything about what might have gone on here?

We'll, what do you think? Just look at his past record.

Won't be the first prodigious physical talent in rugby league to have a head filled with gruyere cheese.

Real shame, but sometimes you just can't force the horse to drink, no matter how much it needs to.

i doubt you will, as usual it will likely be kept in house.

What's he done then?

I don't think they're keen on speculation on here. Anyone who has an inkling PM.

All of that was dealt with very diplomatically.. but (having gone throuogh the Aussie visa application process) I am convinced any application from Hock would have been thrown out!


this klastest escapade MUST be construed by the game as 'bringing the game into disrepute'

punishment?

my view would be a 10,000 pound fine.. (mostly to cover the costs and expenses given to Hock during his England stint...) his international record expunged, 2,000 hours community, charity work and a playing suspension until all the above criteria fulfilled!

Seems odd that all rumours included several players, and yet only Hock gets punished (for now). Scapegoat? Or instigator?
I'd still like to know a bit more detail, but as others have suggested, we'll probably never know.