A SPEECH made by an Alloa rugby club president at an awards ceremony led to resignations, tears and an apology, after he allegedly told jokes relating to gender, race, sexuality and rape.
Alan Stewart, president of Alloa RFC, spoke for about half an hour at the Musselburgh Rugby Football Club dinner last weekend, addressing around 100 people, mostly male.
He told jokes described as “racist, homophobic and sexist” and allegedly ended his speech "with a joke about rape”.
Some women in the audience were said to have been “in tears” and the captain of the women’s rugby team walked out of the hall.
In the days following the incident, emergency meetings were held between the rugby club and its women’s team, some members of the latter asking for a full apology and action to be taken.
Several complaints have been submitted to the Scottish Rugby Union, and Alloa RFC have called a meeting tomorrow night to investigate the allegations.
James Ferguson, the Musselburgh women’s team coach, heard about the evening’s events a few days later from players and was involved in the discussions afterwards.
He described the content of the speech as “atrocious” and said: “It’s just not something that you joke about."
A spokesperson for Alloa RFC said: "We are aware of the allegations made and while Alan was there in a personal capacity, we will establish the facts and take the appropriate action.
"A Committee Meeting for tomorrow night has been convened to discuss the matter further.
"No further comments will be made until we have all of the facts available."
At one of the Musselburgh meetings in the days following, a statement was read out to women’s team members on behalf of Mr Stewart to apologise for the jokes and the offence caused, suggesting that he would try to make it up to the team with a charity donation and an offer to make a purchase for the club’s benefit, such as new kit.
Mr Ferguson decided last Wednesday to step down from the club, effective immediately.
What had happened was, he said, “completely unacceptable” and “shouldn’t have been allowed to happen”.
Mr Ferguson said: “I will support the team. I formed friendships from coaching and I want them to do well.
“But after this, I just can’t affiliate myself with the club.”
The board of Musselburgh RFC then published a statement on its website on Sunday to apologise to attendees impacted; it said that the club “particularly wish to recognise and acknowledge the hurt caused to our women’s team”.
It states that the speaker has also acknowledged his “very poor judgement”.
The apology continues: “We recognise the importance of calling out poor behaviours and in no way condone or approve of the subject matters that caused offence.
“We have been in extensive dialogue with our women’s team since Saturday and are working closely with them to agree a positive way forward for the team and for the club.
“We are grateful to them for their collaboration over this period.”
The club has “committed to further conversations with the women’s playing group” and offered further opportunities for women to have a “clear and regular voice”, hoping that they can “move forward from this stronger”.
There are plans for joint rugby sessions with the male players in future and a donation will be made to a charity of choice on behalf of the women’s team.
Musselburgh RFC says it is working with its support network within Scottish Rugby to ensure it “maintains and builds an environment in keeping with our values of integrity, respect and inclusion".
The statement concluded: “We are extremely disappointed and sorry that this incident has dented the progress that we have made in developing women’s rugby at the club.
“It is an initiative we have strongly supported over the last few years and remain wholeheartedly committed to for the future.
“We sincerely hope and expect that we can move forward from this stronger.”
Mr Stewart has been contacted for comment.
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