Blackadder plays down streaking incident

Bath's Kiwi director of rugby Todd Blackadder says an internal disciplinary hearing will decide the fate of more than 10 players allegedly caught streaking.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder says that the internal disciplinary hearing which will decide the fate of up to a dozen players, who were allegedly caught streaking and heckling, will be made on Monday.

It has been claimed that several individuals ran naked across the Rec - the club's home ground - while others also aimed chants in the direction of Rhys Priestland and George Ford when they were holding a kicking clinic for children.

"We're dealing with it on Monday," the disappointed former All Blacks skipper said, despite playing down the incident.

"A couple of players made a decision, which we're going to deal with because we've set really high standards for ourselves.

"I know the guys themselves are really disappointed so we'll deal with it. We take these things really seriously and we've got a responsibility to our game, our supporters, our sponsors and our owner.

"It's not majorly serious but it's serious enough that we're going to deal with it internally. People are dying in Syria every day, this was just a social (thing) that got a little bit out of hand but we will sort it out and deal with it."

The episode took the shine away from an improved season by Bath after the West Country outfit secured European Champions Cup qualification.

They ended the campaign with a 27-24 defeat to Sale and, despite having concerns over their away form, Blackadder is positive about next season's prospects.

"Heading into next season, there are lots of upsides for us," he added. "I know our away record is not going to be good enough for top-four but, even against Sale, it showed how close we were.

"We were a couple of millimetres from scoring another try and a couple of bizarre decisions could have turned that game, but we've just got to be more consistent on the road."


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Source: AAP


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