A group who organised a protest against a culture of ‘toxic masculinity’ in rugby has welcomed the news that two Ulster and Ireland stars who were acquitted of raping the same woman have been sacked.
Employers Ulster Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union have confirmed Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding’s departure following an internal review into their conduct.
Tweets about Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding
While Jackson, 26, and Olding, 25 were found not guilty last month after a high-profile trial, other aspects of their behaviour have been heavily criticised, with major sponsors of Ulster Rugby having voiced concern.
The IRFU and Ulster Rugby review had focused on a series of sexually explicit WhatsApp conversations involving the players and their friends about the sexual encounter at the centre of the rape trial.