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Munster finally confirm they have taken action against pitch invader who confronted Billy Vunipola
By Online Editors
Thirteen days after their Champions Cup semi-final exit to Saracens, Munster have finally completed their investigation into the spectator who entered the Ricoh Arena playing field to confront Billy Vunipola.
The Saracens forward claimed he had been jolted by the incident that happened following the match when he and his team-mates did a lap walking around the pitch to acknowledge the supporters in the wake of the European match that was won by the London club. "It was quite scary," he said at the time.
Vunipola was in the line of fire in the lead-up to the match following his reprimand by the RFU and by Saracens following his backing for the anti-gay social media post published by Israel Folau that has resulted in a code of conduct hearing in Sydney this Saturday for the Australian player.
Munster had initially issued a statement on April 21, the day after the match in Coventry, stating that they “will investigate the matter further”.
This followed a statement by the EPCR, the Champions Cup’s organising body. “EPCR does not condone the entry of a spectator to the field of play.
“Following the regrettable incident at the Ricoh Arena, the spectator in question is currently being detained by the stadium authorities.”
Munster have now lived up to their promise to investigate the matter further, issuing a statement on May 3 that they will hope will bring an end to an unsavoury matter that has tarnished the reputation of their famed support.
“Following further investigation into the incident involving a spectator entering the field of play at the Ricoh Arena the province can confirm that a decision has been made to prohibit the supporter from attending matches at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, in addition to the ban from the Ricoh Arena.
“The province wishes to reiterate it does not condone the entry of any spectator to the field of play. While it was hugely disappointing to see a supporter breach the stadium regulations, the behaviour of this one individual is not reflective of our supporters.”
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Latest Comments
Keep? Do you have any idea what league is like? That is what rugby has turned into, not where it's trying to go. The universal body type of mass, the game needs to stop heading towards the physically gifted and go back to its roots of how it's played. Much like how SA are trying to add to their game by taking advantage of new laws.
That's what's happening, but as Nick suggests the slow tempo team can still too easyily dictate how the fast tempo team can play.
You mean how rugby used to be before teams started trying to manipulate everything to take advantage for their own gain to the discredit of the game.
Go to commentsIs that "paid" or compensated?
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