The news this summer, dominated as it was by the MP's expenses scandal, reminded us all of the fact that in high profile positions one's standards are there for all to see and scrutinise. One group who quite naturally fall into such a position are professional sports people who adorn the pages of our newspapers on an almost daily basis for their choice of car, drink, lover or lifestyle. So often it is footballers (and their WAGS) who dominate these stories but over recent years rugby has had a growing number of celebrity couples and pin up boys. The raised profile of elite players has led to a rasing of the games overall profile - clearly a good thing - although it can also lead to far less glamorous or wanted stories.
Such an unglamorous story has, unfortunately, been dominating the back pages over the past few weeks. 'Bloodgate' has cast a shadow over Rugby Union in an unprecedented manner and the sport must now work hard to shine up its somewhat tainted image. It also forces me to consider some of the actions that I have in the past or may in the future carry out in the name of the team. For example, in rugby the game cannot go on if a front row player is injured. This has led to the common practice of a front row player going down 'injured' at a strategically appropriate time, normally when his or her team are extremely short of breath! The question I, as a front row player and captain am forced to ask is this: "Does this differ at all from faking a blood injury to bring a substituted player back on to the field?" The short answer is 'not sure'. In conversation with team mates we have discussed the fact that, ultimately, the 'injured' player receives treatment and the game will recommence - 15 on 15, no changes made. Yet whilst this is the case the momentum that the opposition may have had will have been lost and, therefore, an unfair advantage will have been gained.
So what to do? Everyone does it, it always has been done. But hasn't God called me to live differently to the world? To be in it but not to conform to its standards?
And so I have my answer. No more tactical breathers. But what about all the other areas where we push the laws of our great sport to the limit...