From bbc.co.uk
Three rugby league players, including two of the current Great Britain squad, have been jailed after being caught on camera brawling in the street.
Leeds Rhinos and England star Chev Walker, 20, was sent to a young offenders' institution for 18 months.
Rhino's team-mate and Great Britain squad member Ryan Bailey, 19, was also given nine months detention in a young offenders institution at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.
The third player, Rochdale Hornets player Paul Owen, 24, was jailed for 15 months for his part in a fight which broke out outside a Leeds night-club in July last year.
Another Leeds player, Dwayne Barker, 19, was ordered to do 150 hours of community service by Judge Paul Batty QC at Leeds Crown Court.
The judge said Barker had had a limited role in the violence.
Bailey has been a regular in the Leeds side this season
All four pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.
The court heard how the brawl began after Owen was said to have been tricked into handing over his mobile phone to an unidentified woman outside the Creation nightclub.
As he tried to recover it, the Leeds players thought she was being assaulted and set about Owen.
A four-minute video of the brawl was played which showed the Leeds players trading kicks and blows with Owen.
At one point Owen was seen to punch Barker to the ground and as he struggled to regain his feet he was kicked in the head and knocked out.
The chief executive of Leeds Rhinos, Gary Hetherington, head coach Daryl Powell and club chaplain Steve Mitchell, all appeared at court to provide character references.
Ray Taylor, the chairman of Rochdale Hornets, appeared on behalf of Owen.
All the players were described as role models who did a lot of work in local schools and the community.
3 new players for the nutter 13
3 new players for the nutter 13
Strongest Armpits in Rugby League
Re: 3 new players for the nutt...
It seems that Leeds players, both from Football and Rugby can't keep out of trouble. Must be something in the Yorkshire Water.
They should be banned from the game for a further 2 years when they are released from custody, and made an example of.
We are a family orientated sport, and individuals who bring disrepute upon our fantastic game should be severely punished. At the very least, none should play for GB ever again.
They should be banned from the game for a further 2 years when they are released from custody, and made an example of.
We are a family orientated sport, and individuals who bring disrepute upon our fantastic game should be severely punished. At the very least, none should play for GB ever again.
Re: 3 new players for the ...
Surely the moral of this story is supposed star players should keep there ego's in check and realise that they have a duty to the sport and society!
Leeds should do the decent thing and sack them all - then they would rally learn a lesson.
Another question - why are they in a young offenders institute? If they are old enough to be out drinking then they should be in prison!
They are a disgrace to Rugby League!
Leeds should do the decent thing and sack them all - then they would rally learn a lesson.
Another question - why are they in a young offenders institute? If they are old enough to be out drinking then they should be in prison!
They are a disgrace to Rugby League!
Re: 3 new players for the nutt...
There may yet be another Yorkshire lunatic in jail if Leon Pryce is found guilty of a really bad assault altho it is of course alleged at the moment. Does anyone know when the case is to be heard as I am sure he will miss the play-offs if he is found guilty. The case has been put back two or three times already but the judge said no more.