Stuart Cummings : Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:15 pm  

Was on the Catalan defence team at the disciplinary hearings last week, in total there were 25 ‘offences’ which accrued a cumulative ban of 6 matches.
Ironic that he defends refereeing decisions on a regular basis but then argues against them for a club.

Re: Stuart Cummings : Tue Aug 13, 2019 6:18 pm  

I am slightly baffled,well I'm baffled,as to how he can form part of the defence 'team'.
I am aware players are sometimes represented/assisted by the head coach of a club,or a director/chairman,or by a qualified legal representative.
Could he be part of a defence team for any club? How/Why did Catalans decide to use him?
Could any retired referee just pop along to the disciplinary hearings and act for a club?
It all seems a bit bizarre to me.
Anyone enlighten me,please?
I am aware that French players may not be able to appear at hearings,at short notice,but it doesn't appear that justice is being served.
Still,the RFL do act in mysterious ways...

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:10 am  

Ornery Optimist wrote:

I am slightly baffled,well I'm baffled,as to how he can form part of the defence 'team'

I imagine that, as a retired senior ref and an expert in both the rules of the game, and their interpretation, he offers his services as a consultant - and Catalans opted to pay him for those services.

It seems reasonable to me - he is entitled to make a living. Personally, I hope it takes off, and he becomes too busy to appear on the Sky commentary team.

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:17 am  

bren2k wrote:

I imagine that, as a retired senior ref and an expert in both the rules of the game, and their interpretation, he offers his services as a consultant - and Catalans opted to pay him for those services.

It seems reasonable to me - he is entitled to make a living. Personally, I hope it takes off, and he becomes too busy to appear on the Sky commentary team.

It seems like it was money well spent and I agree that, anything that keeps him out of the Sky studio is a definite plus.

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:38 am  

I am sure I read somewhere that he is a qualified solicitor, but I cant find anything to back that fact up at the moment.

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:50 am  

wigginswarrior wrote:

I am sure I read somewhere that he is a qualified solicitor, but I cant find anything to back that fact up at the moment.

Sure you're not thinking of Hicks? I'm pretty sure he is.

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:54 am  

wigginswarrior wrote:

I am sure I read somewhere that he is a qualified solicitor, but I cant find anything to back that fact up at the moment.

He's an ex teacher so I doubt it (otherwise surely he would have opted for a more lucrative career in law)

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:03 pm  

I regularly see him wandering around the place we live, but no idea if he has other regular employment than as an occasional sports consultant. He was involved in cricket at a senior level at one time.

Re: Stuart Cummings : Thu Aug 15, 2019 3:40 pm  

It may be beneficial,then,to prevent complaints about former players sitting on the disciplinary panel and allegedly,thereby, perhaps,being prejudiced,to have the impartial referees,once they retire,to have an opportunity to sit on the panel.