It’s not unique to the sport, but the rot that has set in, in rugby’s general discourse.
Owen Farrell’s decision to take a strategic timeout should be another wake-up call for the sport, especially its fan base.
The England captain has opted to declare himself unavailable for the Red Roses’ Six Nations campaign next year, saying in a statement he is prioritising his and his family’s wellbeing.
For the unflappable Farrell who is one of, if not the toughest nut to crack in the sport, it takes a lot.
There is of course little doubt Farrell is a divisive character in the game.
He is forever held up as one of the game’s privileged.
He is a player with vast pedigree and enduring class but he is not everybody’s cup of tea. He has a wide band of detractors outside England but even among the Red Rose faithful he isn’t universally adored.
There is a sense he belongs to rugby’s elite and is beyond reach of the game’s normal channels of authority.
Many have been left wondering how Farrell’s questionable tackle technique has not invited greater sanction, save for the obligatory tackle school routine. Bok fans, in particular, were incensed he wasn’t punished appropriately for his shoulder hit on André Esterhuizen at the tail end of the clash against England at Twickenham in 2018.
You are dealing with people, with human beings. Just because you’re saying stuff on your phone or behind a computer screen doesn’t make it acceptable.
— England captain, Owen Farrell
That technique, however, has also been at play at domestic level and Farrell isn’t much loved outside Saracens.
Irrespective of how many detractors he may have, what is said and written about those involved in the sport should be held to a higher standard.
Such were the levels of online vitriol and bigotry at the most recent World Cup, World Rugby had to be seen to be doing something about it.
Their match officials were firmly in the firing line, with the game’s most experience Test practitioner Wayne Barnes perhaps suffering the most.
They partnered with the Signify Group to protect those in their online community from hate speech and abuse.
Farrell copped a lot of abuse but so did teammate Tom Curry in the aftermath of the allegations he levelled against Bongi Mbonambi. In that regard Bok fans with itchy thumbs need to take stock.
“You are dealing with people, with human beings. Just because you’re saying stuff on your phone or behind a computer screen doesn’t make it acceptable,” said Farrell in the lead up to their Bronze final against Argentina.
Not long before, Bok captain Siya Kolisi also came out swinging against the online trolls.
“I try not to read that or hear what people are saying,” said Kolisi ahead of the semifinal against England. “It can take you to a different place. But I’m not good at that because I’m very sensitive. I’ll get a little bit emotional about it.”
The Springbok captain made the point that he is a proponent of people expressing their excitement for the game but with the caveat “I don’t want people to be like abusing each other all because of a rugby game.
“If I make a post and people start arguing over that, I don’t support that. I think there are ways of being competitive but still in good spirit.
“We compete as hard as we can. I want to smash our the opposition but when it’s done, it’s done. The game is finished. You shake hands.”
World Rugby has sought to crack down on online abusers, which should be commended but they can do more to control what those under their remit disseminate on social media platforms, especially during major tournaments.
Their social media protocols should ensure the game’s participants, whether players, coaches, matches officials or office bearers refrain from inflammatory comments.
They had better wield a big stick if rugby is to stay true to its self-proclaimed values and ethos.
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