There are many Rugby Supporters and Organisers that have the same questions in their heads.
‘How do we encourage more children to play?’ ‘How about girls?’ ‘Why has my beer gone up?’ etc etc. I am not a member of a local club, although I love to visit them, and have many friends affiliated to small community clubs. They see my black and red Ulster Rugby hat and ask, ‘why is Nick Williams like that?’
Two weekend’s ago, Nick Williams charged a maul, as he frequently does, in a Friday night game against Cardiff Blues. His arm firmly locked by his side. It is important to note that Nick is the size of a small family hatchback. His arm struck the Cardiff Fullback Rhys Patchell in the head. No member of the Rugby Family or our sporting brethren want to see what came next. For a period knocking on for 15 minutes Rhys Patchell was attended to by Cardiff and St Johns Ambulance medical staff, before being whisked away to hospital for the night. Nick Williams saw a yellow card. Twitter erupted with Welsh Rugby fans and Ulster Rugby fans criticising Nick and the Referee for ‘bottling’ a red. It came as no surprise that a citing was issued and Nick subsequently banned for eight weeks. Nick could be forgiven if it was a one off. Sadly its not. Ulster are firmly at the bottom of the Guinness Pro 12 FairPlay League, and rightly so. Nick has been incredibly fortunate not to receive more citations this season. Scarlets Rugby fans have a particular dislike as Nick cleared out a ruck he smashed Aaron Shingler forcing him off the pitch with a fractured shoulder. Thankfully Aaron is up and about and building up his strength.
When Nick joined Ulster he was an instant fan favourite. The gentlest of gentlemen off the pitch and a monster on it. Very quickly he was brought in to be the main gain line breaker, and it was no surprise that the leagues players named him their player off the year. So what has happened? No doubt there are several sport psychologists dying to get hold off him to find out. I see a dedicated giant but one that certainly needs to be reined in. With the retirement of Johann Muller, I don’t see a captain holding their hands up and controlling Ulsters game. There are plenty of possibilities but none, excluding the Irish Hooker, Rory Best, quite reach the Johann Muller category. On the pitch Nick is their weapon to wield, but the support from the coaching staff has to come.
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