England prop Joe Marler has reminded supporters to #BeKind to the players involved after the Barbarians clash on Sunday was called off.
The group of 12, which included former England stars Chris Robshaw and Richard Wigglesworth, left their hotel bubble – contrary to team protocols – to have dinner at a London restaurant.
During its investigation, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it discovered another breach where players left the hotel without permission. The RFU said the players’ actions meant the “bubble environment” was compromised.
The decision saw the players facing a barrage of online criticism, which led to Marler posting #BeKind on Twitter.
The movement, which was started following the death of TV presenter Caroline Flack, is a clamour for change, pressing both media organisations and individuals to think more carefully about the impact of their words online.
Here’s how fans reacted to the loosehead props tweet.
Meanwhile, Piers Morgan also weighed in on the debate, blasting the decision to call the game off.
Morgan wrote: “BREAKING: Big rugby match cancelled because players did what Rishi Sunak did yesterday & had a work-related meeting in a restaurant.”
He later added: “I’m not defending the players, I’m pointing out they did what the Chancellor did yesterday.
“The rules have to be consistently enforced for those setting them & those expected to follow them.”
MORE SOCIAL REACTION:
5 people who should avoid reading Joe Marler’s new autobiography
1. Joe Launchbury
The England ptop, in his section on teammates nicknames, reveals an uncomplimentary one given to the Wasps captain during England duty.
Due to him forever knocking everything over with his backside, the biggest in world rugby, Marler joked ‘your ass is like a permanent slosh bucket.’
Long story short, he hated it but is still known as ‘Slosh’ or ‘Slosh bucket’ to this day in England training/
