Alfie gets 4 weeks.

[goodaine]

LePaul said "....they are the stars that we called them in Toulouse....."

Sorry, I find that offensive. I for one didn't use that term to describe anyone in Toulouse even though I was as shocked and disgusted at what I saw there as anyone else.

I saw that but didn't want to comment as wasn't there.............

Meantime lets be positive towards Ulster, positive towards Ireland and less abusive of our opponents....

second that ...........

[TMHG]

LePaul said "....they are the stars that we called them in Toulouse....."

Sorry, I find that offensive. I for one didn't use that term to describe anyone in Toulouse even though I was as shocked and disgusted at what I saw there as anyone else.

I think that we Ulster supporters should show a bit of class - Thomas has been dealt with - due process has taken place. Brennan will be dealt with appropriately in due course.

Meantime lets be positive towards Ulster, positive towards Ireland and less abusive of our opponents....

Well said Tevez, the only place I've come across this type of language in connection with rugby has been on this website.

[browner]

Well this was the incident i did witness.

I watched as Thomas walked fromthe dug-outs at the halfway, looking up into the crowd the whole time, when he reached the Ulster support he mouthed something, gave the one fingered salute and then tried to climb the wall into the crowd.
I'm sure there were words said back to him, but these were the actions of someone who wasn't thinking straight.

Four weeks..................in my opinion he's a very lucky boy.

Also ..............i don't recall him offering an apology.

[aarons]

according to the ERC panel he had alastair campbell as a character witness! and journo stephen jones

was satan himself otherwise engaged?

[browner]

according to the ERC panel he had alastair campbell as a character witness!

He must be Brennan's mate as well....................lying b%$#$%d.

[Freddie Benson]

at least there are posters on gwlad who are as paranoid as some of ourselves

who else was it that was going to give evidence but Ulster supporters? Don't recall Borders or Calvisano playing at Stade Ernest Wallon that day. And I don't have a problem with the panel taking the verbal and photographic evidence available over that of a 'unstable' person (according to his own defence team).

He did 'fess up after, in private at any rate - did he make a public apology? But I agree with LP, the more I think about it, the more I think he got off quite lightly. Remember Quinlan got six weeks for his stamp.

[TMHG]

according to the ERC panel he had alastair campbell as a character witness! and journo stephen jones

was satan himself otherwise engaged?

or ... Alfie was lucky he wasn't hung with alastair campbell as a character witness!

[Rooster]

If Alfie had got into the crowd things would have got very messy indeed after what people had seen Brennan do, the 12 weeks reduced to 4 was a farce he should have got the 12 to send out a signal to others.
Before you all blow yer tops about Le Pauls comments, is it not just Brennan and Thomas he is referring to, not the entire population of Toulouse
As for the Toulouse management

[Jackie Brown]

After reading the ERC transcript seems the panel believe Thomas was provoked by the crowd! Are we gonna get more tarnished in this whole sorry episode?

[Rooster]

After reading the ERC transcript seems the panel believe Thomas was provoked by the crowd!

Total horlix, it was him that did the provoking

[Jackie Brown]

I know Rooster, but did you read the transcript in full? Seems he only 'snapped' after provocation. http://www.ercrugby.com/images/content/ ... 26_001.pdf

[LePaul]

Errr - guys (thats without gender Aine) - what I said was this

In my simple book, any man/woman/child who leaves the playing area to beat buckets of human flesh out of a supporter is worse than the leeches who suck the life out of animals. No apologies for that - they (THEY being Brennan and Thomas) are the stars that we called them in Toulouse. Period.

This was, as Rooster has pointed out, a direct comment about Brennan who did leave the playing area and Thomas who tried to but was prevented from leaving the playing area. As for the use of the word stars, I was merely using the word that was used by hundreds of rugby people at Stade Touluosian that Sunday. When I say hundreds I mean hundreds and this includes many many French rugby folk who also used a word (which I cannot spell) which refers to the rear end of a donkey/ass. These chants, for want of a better word, were directed at Brennan as he trotted off back to the dugout after his assault on PB and at Thomas for the abusive finger gesture and his failed attempt to whack someone.

Tevez, I have no problem with what you say, nor you either LastKnightoftheproms, although I think that you may have misunderstood my message. As for Cap'n Grumpy, thank you for reminding me of my posts this last week or so. If, however, you care to read them again, you will clearly see that I state that I was guilty of shouting out after the event and at Brennan during, what we thought was, the banter. I have accepted that I did not act as a true Ulster fan shoud and that the hideous epsiode which unfolded that afternoon made many people react in a fashion that is not their usual manner. Hence my suggestion that we reflect on the entire episode - as I have done. This does not detract from my feelings about what happened and about the dreadful way that the ERC have responded to the Thomas incident. As has been pointed out 6 weeks for stamping against this.

Again, I am stating what happened and what was said in Toulouse. As for my feelings towards Thomas, I'm pretty well disgusted at the ERC for such an incredibly soft response to a very serious action.

Aine - you are right - we all have our own views and are entitled to say what we feel. If you disagree with what I say thats fine. Good luck to you.

[LePaul]

And - if ever any posts from me offend anyone or are deemed offensive I apologise in the strongest terms possible. I may say things from the hip, so to speak, but never to offend.

Except when it comes to the likes of Brennan and Thomas and any other individual who perpetrates hideous actions such as we saw in Toulouse. They have no right to be involved in or with rugby.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

No worries, Le Paul. On many issues you write about, I find myself agreeing. I fully appreciate where you are coming from and can understand your reaction at the time. I can't say with honesty that I wouldn't have reacted in similar fashion, albeit with slightly different vocabulary.

My point at this time is that with the passage of time since the incident, I think we should be calmer in our responses and more reasoned in our language. Of course we still have our feelings of disgust, revulsion, etc, but I think we should be able to put them across in a more reasonable manner.

It's just a personal thing, but I think that terms like "stars" or casting doubts on parentage at this stage are not suitable for anyone, even Alfie and TB. As I said before, we'll agree to disagree, but hopefully not fall out over it.

Regards
Grumps

[General Prom]

I heard Martyn Williams this morning on 5Live saying that he doubted that Thomas would play for Wales again and commented on his disgraceful behaviour....

Just wondered if anyone had seen a full quote?

Regards

The General.