NRL endorses Cronulla Junior Rugby League Association introducing new swearing rules

When Broncos superstar Reece Walsh was banned for three matches following a expletive-riddled tirade at referee Chris Butler, it initiated a paradigm rule shift for one major junior league nursery.

The Cronulla Junior Rugby League (CJRL) has mandated an unprecedented rule which went into force this weekend across the Shire that results in any player who swears at an official being sin binned or sent off from under 6s upwards.

It follows the NRL’s increasing number of fines and bans for role model senior players found swearing at match day officials.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo (pictured) fully endorses the crackdown of swearing at junior rugby league level in the Cronulla association

Even as young as under 6s will be sin binned or rotated off the field if the kids swear at an official

Brisbane Bronco Reece Walsh has a huge fan base and his reckless regard to officialdom when he unleashed a savage verbal tirade at the ref recently cost him three matches

NRL boss Andrew Abdo fully endorses the Shire association’s move and hopes it spreads across all junior rugby league jurisdictions.

‘The initiative should be applauded,’ Abdo told News Corp. 

‘Our aim should always be to create a respectful, inclusive and enjoyable experience for all of our participants. That includes players, referees, officials, volunteers and supporters.

‘Offensive behaviour of any nature is not consistent with the values of the game and should not be tolerated.’

Walsh is currently serving a suspension after being found guilty of blotting his own copybook with a contrary conduct charge for astonishingly yelling: ‘What the f*** do you mean, c***,’ following a penalty against the Broncos in their loss to the Titans last month. 

Players like Walsh have massive fan bases among young players, who then emulate much of their actions; so the NRL supporting the CJRL’s stamping out of swearing at officials is seen by many as an extremely important move.  

As egregious as his outburst was, it wasn’t isolated in recent months. Canterbury’s now-retired icon, Josh Reynolds  (known as Grub) was fined $1,000 by the NRL after yelling ‘bulls**t’ at referee Grant Atkins in a match against St George-Illawarra.

Similarly referee Ben Cummins did not cop being sworn at by James Tamou and sent him to the bin which led to a suspension

Back when he was with the Melbourne Storm, Brandon Smith was suspended for three matches by the NRL for calling referee Adam Gee ‘a cheating bastard.’

Tigers’ enforcer and captain at the time, prop James Tamou, was also suspended for one match after yelling at referee Ben Cummins, ‘You are f**** incompetent.’ 

The junior crackdown is the brainchild of CJRL general manager Chris Bannerman, who announced the controversial move to every club within the association earlier this week, citing that swearing had reached intolerable levels.

The new rules include immediate sin bins and send-offs for players over the age of 12 who are heard to be swearing at a match official. Bannerman sent out an official email to ALL clubs in the Shire.

Kids are being taught now not to ever swear at officials in the Cronulla Junior Rugby League region and the NRL hopes the move will flow on to other junior nurseries

‘In recent weeks it has been noted by referees, Ground Managers, CJRL board members and spectators at many venues, that the instances of loud swearing from players and interchange benches have reached a point where this can no longer be tolerated, if we are to create a welcoming environment for people of all ages who come along to support family members on match day,’ the email read. 

‘Swearing and dissent directed towards match officials may result in the offending players being sin-binned and their team penalised (as a minimum penalty) whilst more serious instances may result in dismissal.

‘Any instances of swearing from interchange benches will also be dealt with.

‘For competitions up to under 12s, any instances of swearing may result in players being rotated out of the game at the discretion of the referee, who will ensure the Ground Manager is fully aware that the player is not to return to the game.’

It is anticipated that other junior associations will follow suit.