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Scotland’s pre-Rugby World Cup camp activities in France has drawn heavy criticism
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Certain Scottish players were according to Hamilton tasked with killing a rabbit by hand
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PETA is calling on the authorities to investigate the incident
An account of Scotland’s pre-Rugby World Cup camp activities in France has drawn heavy criticism from the animal rights group PETA.
Jim Hamilton, the Saracens lock who retired from international rugby after missing out on selection for Scotland’s 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, revealed details of last June’s camp to the Rugby Pod podcast this week.
Recalling how the squad were marched into the Pyrenees as part of an exercise with the French Marines, certain Scottish players were then according to Hamilton tasked with killing a rabbit to “toughen them up.”
Elisa Allen, UK director of charity PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) said in a statement: “Turning rugby players into killers won’t improve their game, and to call it ‘unsporting’ is an understatement.
“Crushing the skulls of rabbits and slitting their throats are terrifying and agonising ways to kill these sensitive, intelligent animals, and such violent acts may be illegal in France, where this cruelty allegedly occurred.
“PETA is calling on authorities to investigate and also asking the rugby league to take immediate action to put a stop to any further ‘training’ with animals’.”
Watch the full podcast with Hamilton here: The Rugby Pod with Jim Hamilton
