Leicester – Plumbing New Lows

It is hard to believe anyone can respect Leicester these days. Oh they are still a decent team, and with a long proud history. Their fans are right out of the top draw, no question, the set up is quality and they have a coach who seems to be doing the right things. So what am I talking about?

Their sour grapes at losing, or more accurately their Director’s continued sour grapes. I am finding it hard to get my head around but the Director of Leicester, Pete Wheeler, is moaning now that the integrity of the Heineken Cup has been compromised because he feels the Ospreys have cheated.

Leaving aside the complete and utter irony of a Leicester man complaining about anyone going through in the Heineken cup because of cheating (hand of Back anyone?) it seems his whinging has started plumbing new lows of pathetic. His recent outburst had this to say

The European Cup has been a great competition since its inception,” he said in his programme notes from last weekend’s game against London Irish.

“The clubs and provinces of Europe have embraced it and made it what it is today.

“Their role is to provide the teams within the regulations of the competition – and the supporters to make the matches real rugby occasions of the highest level. This they have achieved.

“European Rugby Cup’s responsibilities are to ensure that, apart from the competition generating appropriate income levels for the commercial rights, all teams comply with the competition’s regulations so they can be sure that all are operating on a level paying field.

“This, crucially, applies to only properly registered players being eligible to play in matches, and that only they in the proper number are allowed on to the playing field.

“If they fail to undertake these responsibilities fully, the credibility and integrity of the competition is compromised and tarnished.

“Any breaches of the regulations in our match against the Ospreys should not have occurred, and competing clubs or other bodies should not have to make complaints to have them investigated. This is European Rugby Cup Ltd’s job.”

Now he seems to be forgetting something – that the Ospreys were cleared of any wrong doing. He can complain all he wants, he is even now complaining of teh fact he had to complain. Only he didn’t have to complain, in fact he shouldn’t have. The Ospreys were cleared of any wrong doing, as well as having to fill in the paper work before hand they have also now, thanks to Mr Wheeler bleating on about it (after he tried to get the Ospreys kicked out over the whole 16th man incident) had to prove they were right afterwards.

So what we see is that Mr Wheeler has complained about on pitch actions, complained about off pitch actions and now is complaining about complaining about off pitch actions. This surely is a new low for Leicester rugby. This is a proud club with a proud history… why Mr Wheeler is dragging it’s name through the mud to try achieve his aim of getting the Ospreys kicked out is beyond me. This vendetta is certainly not doing the Tigers any good.

And let us not forget it is not like they were the next best runners up, that was the Ospreys anyway. This was the team that came third. So please be quiet Mr Wheeler, you are only making yourself look silly and drawing attention to the fact that Leicester were 3rd best out of 4. Surely not your aim.