Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Premiership Rugby & NWSL coaches
Every week we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.
HIT - PREMIERSHIP RUGBY
Mental health challenges have been on the increase, especially with the advent of social media and the Covid-19 lockdowns.
So it was great to see Premiership Rugby team up with the Rugby Players Association (RPA) to dedicate Round 24 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby to the Restart charity, focusing on our players’ mental health.
Restart – the Official Charity of the RPA – is dedicated to supporting professional rugby players suffering from serious injury, illness, or hardship.
The charity provides financial and practical support to players and their families during difficult times, including help with the cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation equipment and disability support.
Every penny raised from Restart Round will go directly to supporting current and former players' struggling with serious injury illness or hardship, with the charity providing advisory, practical, and financial support to help those in need.
Importantly, the funds raised will also support players’ mental health through a 24/7 Confidential Counselling Service that is accessible to over 800 current and 400 former professional players.
The service is a discreet, safe lifeline for players finding it difficult to open up and take the first step and includes a free 24/7 telephone helpline for players to call at any time, from anywhere in the world when they need help or someone to speak to.
From there, players are able to access a trained professional who will be able to provide free one-to-one support and help around issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, coping with injury, relationship issues, career transition and bereavement.
Alongside all 13 Gallagher Premiership Rugby clubs, Premiership Rugby are also supporting this crucial Restart Round and will help to raise awareness even further.
Former England flanker and Restart Rugby Trustee, James Haskell, said: "As a former rugby player, I’ve seen first-hand the huge impact the game can have on players’ physical and emotional wellbeing.
"That’s why I’m extremely proud to be a Restart Trustee, helping to ensure that Restart can continue to be a lifeline for players experiencing their toughest times.
"I hope you’ll join me and all the Gallagher Premiership Rugby clubs as we aim to raise vital funds and awareness for players’ mental health during Round 24. Thank you for all your support."
Leicester Tigers fly-half, Freddie Burns, said: “I have been around the game long enough to know that things don’t always go to plan. It is great that players across the league have an organisation like Restart, who are there to help when things are tough.”
England and Bristol Bears scrum-half, Harry Randall, said: “It’s not talked about as much but playing professional rugby can impact your mental health just as much as your physical health. That’s why it’s so reassuring to know we have a charity like Restart to turn to when times get difficult.”
As many as 25 per cent of rugby players experience poor mental health, with cultures of toxic masculinity within the sport often leading to depression, increased stress, substance abuse and suicide.
However Premiership Rugby are not shirking from their duty of care, and through initiatives like the Restart Round, are stepping up and tackling these issues head on.
DONATE by text or online. Text RESTART to 70470 to donate £10. Each text costs £10 + one standard rate message.
MISS – NWSL COACHES
Housten Dash head coach and general manager James Clarkson has become the fourth head coach in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to be stood down as a result of the league’s investigation into “current and historic complaints of discrimination, harassment and abuse”.
The Dash have suspended Clarkson with immediate effect, with the move coming following a league-wide investigation, which was initiated after complaints of sexual misconduct against Paul Riley, former North Carolina Courage head coach.
Riley – who denies the allegations – was fired by the Courage.
Since then, Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke has been fired following sexual harassment allegations and Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames stepped down following similar claims.
Both Burke and Dames also deny the accusations.
Clarkson’s suspension was recommended by the NWSL as well as the league’s players’ association (NWSLPA), with The Dash suggesting that his future would be decided after the investigation’s full findings are released.
The Dash intend to name an interim head coach soon with assistant coach Sarah Lowdon taking control in the interim.
They said in a statement: “The Houston Dash announced that it has suspended head coach and general manager James Clarkson, effective immediately.
“The suspension comes in light of initial findings, received this week, from the joint NWSL and NWSLPA investigation that was launched last year to review current and historic complaints of discrimination, harassment and abuse.
“An ultimate decision about Clarkson’s future with the Dash will be made based on the final results of the ongoing investigation.
“As an organization, our highest priority is creating and maintaining a safe and respectful work environment for our players and staff, which we believe is critical to our success on the pitch. The club has made counseling services available to all members of the organization interested.”
Commenting on the Clarkson suspension, NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke said: “Players made a promise to ourselves and future generations to transform our league – not through words, but with our actions. This shows that our joint investigation is doing the work of systemic transformation. The work continues, and we commend players for speaking up and speaking out.”
The NWSL investigation has been looking into multiple allegations of workplace misconduct towards the league’s players.
Acknowledgement of the systemic, deep-rooted problem of abuse within the league forced the resignation of NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird last year.
Current NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said: “I want to thank the players and staff throughout the league who have participated in the overall investigation thus far, and assure them, as well as our fans and partners, that we will deliver on our promise to create a workplace where players and staff are empowered to succeed in a healthy and safe environment.”
The Clarkson suspension means that the NWSL season is getting underway where it left off - under a cloud.
However, the right actions are being taken by the NWSL and NWSLPA in order to put in place a system for players to be able to bring forward concerns.
Having women in key roles will help the league move on from one of the most difficult times it has faced.
USA World Cup winner Kelley O'Hara told the BBC that having women in key NWSL roles will help to address the problems, with Michele Kang becoming the Washington Spirit's majority owner.
O’Hara said: "Having women involved in decision-making positions is so important for this league and I was extremely grateful that our ownership debacle has been settled and Michele Kang is now leading this franchise.
"She's already shown an immense step forward and just an understanding and an ability to listen to the players and support the players how we feel we need to be supported.
"I definitely think that having women, and especially women of colour, in those roles is immensely important."
Hopefully this marks the turning of the page after a dark chapter in the history of the National Women’s Soccer League but after so many scandals in recent years, there is clearly a lot of work to be done so women feel confident and safe playing the game.