Welsh ‘bad boy’ barred

Press, 14 July 1980, Page 32

Welsh ‘bad boy’ barred

NZPA London The Welsh rugby flanker, Paul Ringer, continues to be dogged by the repercussions of being sent off at Twickenham in the match against England last season. His dismissal —for a dangerous tackle in the fiery first half of the match that England eventually won — earned him an eight-week suspension and cost him his place in the Lions side for South Africa. Recently, he was investigated, and cleared, for more alleged rough play during a minor rugby tournament in the Netherlands.

i The latest repercussion is that Ringer has been narred ■ from taking part in the ; 8.8.C.’s contrived television ■ sports competition, “Super- ■ stars.” '■ Ringer, who will lead the Llanelli forwards against the ■ All Blacks in October, was ■ originally asked by the : 8.8. C. to take part in one of • the "‘Superstars” early : rounds. “I was really excited at • the time and I understand the programme controller ■ felt the same way when he •. was told of my interests,” Ringer was quoted by the Cardiff “Western Mail” as saying. “But. when the con-

troller took the composition of his team back to the people who have the final say, they said: ‘Oh no, we can’t have him. He’s a naughty boy?’ ” Ringer said that the whole business was “a bit laughable.”

A 8.8. C. spokesman said yesterday that Ringer’s send-ing-off would have been taken into account when deciding to bar him from the series.

“Superstars” is classified as light entertainment rather than sport, he said, and the 8.8. C. tried to ensure it bad a "right balance of participants.”