Banned but not forgotten

Six months after being forcibly disbanded and publicly condemned, UEA Rugby Club is attempting to repair its tarnished reputation and plan for the future.

In March the controversial club paid the price for a string of nasty social incidents, the final straw being the now-infamous “bad-taste party”. The team was suspended by the Union and subsequently kicked out of their BUCS division.

The rugby club were banned after a ‘bad taste’ party

The ban still has a year to run. The remaining players, nicknamed “The Exiles”, are desperate to leave their troubled past behind and make a return to the pitch. Jack Walsh, a 2nd-year member of the team, spoke to The Tab.

“We want to avoid the stigma of what UEA Rugby has apparently become and get back to what matters, playing rugby.

“We all know what happened last year but the most important thing now is to plan for the future and to try to rebuild [the team]”.

Until the ban ends next Autumn the Exiles will be playing and training with local side Norwich Lions RFC.

“It’s a great chance to keep the players working together and to introduce new members to the squad. It’s also a good opportunity to play alongside experienced Norwich rugby players.

“We hope that we can create a good link with the Lions, and as a sign of goodwill we would be happy to supply players to the club even after our ban has ended.”

While the team looks set to now have the chance to play rugby for the coming year, there remains a lot of anger being directed towards the UEA Student Union for last Spring’s decision.

“There is still hostility, yes”, Walsh confided. “We definitely feel that the decision made was the wrong one, and will impact rugby at UEA not just during this year but for some years to come”.

“What is most upsetting about the ban is that it punished rugby players who had not even joined UEA. This year’s freshers and future freshers are being punished for something that happened while they were still in school”.

Multiple appeals were made last Spring and over the summer, but all were rejected.

“We went to the Union with several offers of punishments we thought we fairer, such as banning just the individuals involved”, Walsh told The Tab. The Club also offered to suspend all rugby socials in exchange for overturning the ban.

“I think by that point the Union was in too deep and didn’t want to go back on its decision. What makes it all the more frustrating is that the Union officers involved were not even connected with university sports. The Union finance officer had a big say in the decision, which makes as much sense as the rugby captain deciding the Union’s annual budget”.

This year a dedicated sports officer has been assigned, something that Walsh admitted “makes a lot more sense, but is too little too late”.

The ban made national news and sparked debate not just in UEA but up and down the country. Jack Walsh and the rest of the Exiles, however, are now trying to put what has happened behind them.

“There’s no point focusing on the past. What’s happened has happened and sadly nothing is going to change that.

“What we are doing now is making sure that we get back to where we belong as soon as possible. The ban has done huge damage to the sport at UEA and we’re determined to fix the Union’s mistake”.

UEA Rugby Exiles are currently looking for new players. Join the Exiles Facebook page for more info. Check back throughout the year to see how the Exiles are getting on. The student Exiles are hoping to get back to playing and training in October. Thanks to Jack Walsh for taking time to talk to The Tab.