LEINSTER’S DEVIN TONER says that two recent high-profile incidents were ‘isolated’ and not representative of the province’s culture.
On Monday, the IRFU sanctioned Sean O’Brien over an incident in a Dublin pub in the wake of Leinster’s Guinness Pro14 final win over Glasgow Warriors.
In a separate incident last month, an academy player was punched and knocked out by a former player, who was then invited on stage three days later when Leinster celebrated the 10th anniversary of their first Heineken Cup win.
Advertisement
In rugby, terms like ‘values’, ‘culture’ and ‘standards’ are often used as a means to both promote the game and maximise a team’s ability on the field.
“If you ask me when I went to build a team, ‘What do you look to get right first?’ You look to get the culture right,” said Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster last year.
During their run to Heineken Champions Cup victory in 2018, Leinster used the phrase ‘brothers‘ to describe their player-driven culture.
And, when it’s put to Toner that the young player knocked unconscious may not have much cause to feel like a ‘brother’, Leinster’s second-most-capped player says the incident could have been handled better.
“It could have been handled a bit differently but, I’m not in the position to be doing that,” said Toner as Energia were announced as new sponsors of both the men’s and women’s All-Ireland league.
Devin Toner and Sene Naoupu pictured as Energia and the IRFU agreed a five-year deal, which will see Energia become Official Energy Partner to Irish Rugby and title sponsor of both the Men’s and Women’s All Ireland League (AIL) competitions. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
In dismissing the need for a review of the culture, the Meath lock lamented the ‘two isolated incidents’ in question.
“I don’t think there’s a need to review anything, to be honest. It is a player-driven thing.
“The people that have been involved know that it’s not what they do, and it’s not what we do. There have been apologies and they’re two isolated incidents, and that very rarely happens. “
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
53 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
'It's not what we do': Toner laments post-Pro14 final incidents, but backs culture to hold firm
LEINSTER’S DEVIN TONER says that two recent high-profile incidents were ‘isolated’ and not representative of the province’s culture.
On Monday, the IRFU sanctioned Sean O’Brien over an incident in a Dublin pub in the wake of Leinster’s Guinness Pro14 final win over Glasgow Warriors.
In a separate incident last month, an academy player was punched and knocked out by a former player, who was then invited on stage three days later when Leinster celebrated the 10th anniversary of their first Heineken Cup win.
In rugby, terms like ‘values’, ‘culture’ and ‘standards’ are often used as a means to both promote the game and maximise a team’s ability on the field.
“If you ask me when I went to build a team, ‘What do you look to get right first?’ You look to get the culture right,” said Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster last year.
During their run to Heineken Champions Cup victory in 2018, Leinster used the phrase ‘brothers‘ to describe their player-driven culture.
And, when it’s put to Toner that the young player knocked unconscious may not have much cause to feel like a ‘brother’, Leinster’s second-most-capped player says the incident could have been handled better.
“It could have been handled a bit differently but, I’m not in the position to be doing that,” said Toner as Energia were announced as new sponsors of both the men’s and women’s All-Ireland league.
In dismissing the need for a review of the culture, the Meath lock lamented the ‘two isolated incidents’ in question.
“I don’t think there’s a need to review anything, to be honest. It is a player-driven thing.
“The people that have been involved know that it’s not what they do, and it’s not what we do. There have been apologies and they’re two isolated incidents, and that very rarely happens. “
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Devin Toner Leinster pro14 rugby values Sean O'Brien none