Rugger buggers booze ban
The winning St Peter's rugby team have been banned from their college bar following accusations of rowdy and offensive behaviour.
The complaints, lodged by a fresher, followed an evening of celebration by the team at their victory over rivals Teddy Hall on Tuesday 9th November. As a result the group has been banned, as a team and as individuals, from drinking in and around the bar for two weeks.
In a letter to the Junior Dean the fresher, who does not wish to be named, wrote of the "sickened feeling" she experienced overhearing the rugby celebrations from her room above the bar. She took particular objection to a song, which was "extremely graphic and described various ways in which they were going to 'fuck' a girl that they had accosted." The student has since moved to quieter accommodation elsewhere.
The general feeling in St Peter's appears to be one of support for the rugby team, however, and amusement at the heavy-handed punishment imposed for what has largely been regarded as typical rugby team behaviour.
The team themselves certainly feel that they have been wronged, taking particular objections to their individual bans. One player told The Oxford Student: "It is ridiculous and particularly hard on freshers." Another player described the ban as "a joke".
Nick Tilley, the college Bar Manager, is outraged by the decision. He told The Oxford Student: "I am absolutely, totally pissed off... Rugby drinks are some of my favourite nights, and I want the team back in the bar as soon as possible. They are never any hassle and are always polite at the bar."
However, the Senior Dean for the college has described the behaviour as "completely unacceptable". He told The Oxford Student the incident was "more serious than merely singing a song" and that this behaviour "persisted despite warnings from the Junior Dean, both prior to and during the evening in question."
Meanwhile, the Peter's team appear to be making their merriment elsewhere, with one anonymous player informing us: "We went to the Oxford Union last night, and they loved us - even when there was nakedness."
18th Nov 2004