Crisis at the REC as drugs and fighting allegations take hold

[Prestwick]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rug...icle6328962.ece

Five Bath players have hired lawyers to represent them in an internal club probe into allegations of drink, drugs and fighting. It is understood that the club wish to test players blood, urine and hair for traces of cocaine consumption. The legal standoff comes in the wake of a turbulent few months for Bath which has already seen Matt Stevens banned for a lengthy period for taking Cocaine and the sudden departure of Australian lock/cheating imbecile Justin "the plank" Harrison in the wake of revelations that Bath players were involved in brawl after their Guinness Premiership Semi-Final defeat to Leicester.

 

[getofmeland]

This is not a good thing for Bath Rugby, after moving forward so far recently this is a huge disappointment for Bath Rugby, the problems seem to have arisen from the loss of Former Club Captain Steve Borthwick.

I am unsure what the cause of this is, but it is highly upsetting for a great club.

 

[Bullitt]

A quid says Daniel Brown is one of the 5.

 

[mohamed_ali12]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ May 22 2009, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

A quid says Daniel Brown is one of the 5.[/b]

If only he was - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...ath/8055662.stm.

Lipman, Crockett and Higgins.

Awful, awful day for Bath Rugby.

Higgins I'm not too worried about, but Lipman and Crockett will be sorely missed as joint captains, and i fear it may be too late to find half-decent replacements for them. We were making so much progress as well...what a disappointment.

 

[Bullitt]

Good riddance. Better to worm it out now, not to mention the lowlife sorts who intentionally choose to use class A drugs, before any other damage is done to the sports reputation.

 

[getofmeland]

By the sounds of it, Bath have tried to deal with this internally, Lipman, Higgins and Crockett are all major players but if they are causing issues in the club then good riddance.

 

[Fa'atau82]

4 players is enough to drag a whole club down. No-one is bigger than the club. It seems there is a drug culture at Bath, which is really, really sad. I hope this is not the case.

 

[SaintsFan_Schweinsteiger_Webby]

It hasn't actually been suggested that any of the three have taken drugs, the issue has arisen due to accusations of them having refused to take drug tests, which they have strenuously denied.

Any of the three may be guilty, but the way the club is dealing with allegations seems to be making the matter even worse than it already was. There is obviously serious problems behind the scenes, but no employer can go around tarnishing the reputation of their employees before any evidence has been provided.

Certainly doesn't stand them in good stead for next season, be hugely difficult to find adequate replacements for good club players such as Lipman and Crockett, particularly with all the rumours flying around and the fact they are now behind every other club in actively looking for cover. Who is going to want to sign for Bath until this mess has been sorted out?

 

[getofmeland]

The Statement from Bath Rugby

Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins had been required to appear at an internal disciplinary hearing today to address the failure on three occasions to take a drugs test following allegations surrounding player conduct on Sunday May 10. Immediately before the hearings were due to take place the players resigned from the Club with immediate effect.

The Club regards this as an internal matter and intends to make no further comment"

R Calleja, CEO Bath Rugbyv

 

[Cymro]

Again surprised that Browne aint been mentioned!

 

[getofmeland]

Bath are trying to keep this inside the club, but certain things will leak they always do..

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (getofmeland @ Jun 1 2009, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Bath are trying to keep this inside the club, but certain things will leak they always do..[/b]

Please tell me that was a deliberate pun...

 

[getofmeland]

No Pun intended!

 

[best_fullback]

Coming from Bath myself It doesn't really suprise me to be honest. Everytime im on a night out I always see players such as Banahan and Stevens before his ban outside clubs with shady looking characters.

The drugs culture in Bath is pretty rife. If you go to the right places you could get it easily. It just has bad news written all over it.

My thinking is that if you are innocent then you should have no reason to miss a test. Same sort of thing with Christine Ohuruogu and Rio Ferdinand. They probably wanted to get out before they were tested and get a ban like Stevens did.

'Innocent until proven guilty' and all that, but I think it smells far too fishy and extreme to not be true.

 

[shtove]

I suppose the hair tests are the clincher - don't they reveal long term drug use? Better to get out before they become damaged goods in the market.

 

[getofmeland]

Yeah the hair can trace back upto a year of drug use... not a nice test when you bald like my mate... he had to shave his arm pits haha

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Do you guys reckon Bath will be able to get in anyone decent to replace them? It would seem most clubs have got their transfer business done and dusted. Would like to see the Arscott brothers to replace Crockett and Higgins. That would give them enough options at centre with Cheeseman, Barkley, Hape, the Arscotts and Davis and also the Arscotts to cover fullback and wing.

Bath also need a ten to replace Butch James for the first half of the season, i know there have been rumours about Grant coming their way as well as Mercato, if they could get either of those i would be very happy as they need more than just Davis and i much prefer Barkley at 12 rather than 10.

In the forwards they look very, very weak at 7 with both Scaysbrook and Lipman going. Any suggestions? Maybe Guest off Harlequins? Am not really aware of any other available targets.

Also they need a replacement at lock for Harrison, personally i've got no real suggestions.

 

[bristol-iain]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ali12 @ Jun 2 2009, 09:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Do you guys reckon Bath will be able to get in anyone decent to replace them? It would seem most clubs have got their transfer business done and dusted. Would like to see the Arscott brothers to replace Crockett and Higgins. That would give them enough options at centre with Cheeseman, Barkley, Hape, the Arscotts and Davis and also the Arscotts to cover fullback and wing.

Bath also need a ten to replace Butch James for the first half of the season, i know there have been rumours about Grant coming their way as well as Mercato, if they could get either of those i would be very happy as they need more than just Davis and i much prefer Barkley at 12 rather than 10.

In the forwards they look very, very weak at 7 with both Scaysbrook and Lipman going. Any suggestions? Maybe Guest off Harlequins? Am not really aware of any other available targets.

Also they need a replacement at lock for Harrison, personally i've got no real suggestions.[/b]

I'm sorry, what?

If you mean Luke and Tom Arscott, I think you'll fine they have recently signed extensions ro stay with Bris.

Hands Off!!

Oh and as for the whole Bath drugs thing, I find it hilarious.

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bristol-iain @ Jun 11 2009, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ali12 @ Jun 2 2009, 09:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you guys reckon Bath will be able to get in anyone decent to replace them? It would seem most clubs have got their transfer business done and dusted. Would like to see the Arscott brothers to replace Crockett and Higgins. That would give them enough options at centre with Cheeseman, Barkley, Hape, the Arscotts and Davis and also the Arscotts to cover fullback and wing.

Bath also need a ten to replace Butch James for the first half of the season, i know there have been rumours about Grant coming their way as well as Mercato, if they could get either of those i would be very happy as they need more than just Davis and i much prefer Barkley at 12 rather than 10.

In the forwards they look very, very weak at 7 with both Scaysbrook and Lipman going. Any suggestions? Maybe Guest off Harlequins? Am not really aware of any other available targets.

Also they need a replacement at lock for Harrison, personally i've got no real suggestions.[/b]

I'm sorry, what?

If you mean Luke and Tom Arscott, I think you'll fine they have recently signed extensions ro stay with Bris.

Hands Off!!

Oh and as for the whole Bath drugs thing, I find it hilarious.

[/b][/quote]

Mate...harsh
I know they're Bristol's Rivals and all, but still, it's not really funny that this has happened. It's the players fault, and it could prove to really hurt the club on and off the field, which is very sad considering Bath are quite a big name in club rugby. It also affects the reputation of the sport in general, neither the fans or player want Rugby to have the label of the 'druggie-sport'.
So just have a bit of sympathy mate, I mean you'd kick off if I said something like 'haha, I find it SO funny that Bristol got relagated' wouldn't you?

 

[dundeesmiffy]

Hm, this would be awesome if it was some sort of protest against the Matt Stevens ban...like they all refused to take drugs tests.
I don't think taking drugs makes someone a bad person, I think people who think that are bad people though.