Stephen Ferris in trouble now too?

Cryptic announcement on the Ulster website:

Ulster Rugby is aware that Stephen Ferris was involved in an off field incident in Belfast back in September 2009.

As this incident is now subject to legal proceedings, neither party will be making any further comment except to say that Ulster Rugby has given and will continue to give Stephen its full support in this matter.

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/9467.php

Crikey!

Seems pretty serious! If you make any comments on this, please obviously be aware of the legality of any speculation!

He was abducted by aliens!

(I await the legal representatives of Sirius 9)

Was just about to post this. i'm baffled. The whole injunction thing confuses me. I'm not saying there is one here. But How are you meant to know if there is one anyway?

I want to know! Is it wrong for someone to post it here? Somebody post it!

I don't think this has anything to do with an injunction otherwise Ulster rugby wouldn't be able to say anything?

It seems strange that the legal procedings are only happening now after so long though.

Ferris has walked into a bar challenged every man in the place to a fight and invariably won.

From a reliable source.

Bet the bouncers wouldnt of stopped him from getting a burger!

He would of done press ups with that bouncer on his back.

roddersm wrote:I don't think this has anything to do with an injunction otherwise Ulster rugby wouldn't be able to say anything?

It seems strange that the legal procedings are only happening now after so long though.

Rodders - if there are legal proceedings going on there are numerous reasons why it has taken some time for them to begin. For example, if this concerns a criminal offence, crimes can be reported historically. Whether a prosecution is successful or not depends on the evidence provided obviously.

Ulsters unofficial fansite is taking a very cautious stance on this;

http://www.uafc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12962

I'd be careful about speculation before the facts are in. I have no idea what's going on; I'm quite dismayed to hear of it. Last thing Ulster, Ireland and Ferris need is off-field controversy.

Wow notch that is pretty worrying.

Which dipshoot started this thread?

Can someone please tell me why he's referred to as 1F by fans (I'm sure it's something hugely obvious that I'm missing)?

Hobo wrote:Which dipshoot started this thread?

Dippoopie?

I can't open those links. What is alledged to have happened..

Marcus, the line is that theres only one 1F in (one effing) Ferris.

In all seriousness, I started this thread as it is discussion/ news worthy but as i stated, please be very careful what is said on here.

Do not make any allegations.

Humerous suggestions allowed though

That's the interesting thing, stag. There's no detail whatsoever. Strange in this day and age nothing has come out.

Maybe it's a Superinjuection

Here's the transcript for you

Ulster Rugby is aware that Stephen Ferris was involved in an off field incident in Belfast back in September 2009.

As this incident is now subject to legal proceedings, neither party will be making any further comment except to say that Ulster Rugby has given and will continue to give Stephen its full support in this matter.

The worrying thing is, bar fights are normally talked about. The fact that there is no chat and no news makes it more worrying. Your minds I'm sure are capable of jumping to the same worries as mine. Let's hope he's not done anything to upset fans. He really seems like a stand up guy. A fight I can forgive, other stuff... maybe not.

Jeez, why even make a statement. Its creating discussion where there was none recently.

red_stag wrote:Jeez, why even make a statement. Its creating discussion where there was none recently.

Ulster Rugby are publicly backing Ferris, which is a big deal.

Is it that the Ospreys are about to buy him out of his contract?

Sin é wrote:

red_stag wrote:Jeez, why even make a statement. Its creating discussion where there was none recently.

Ulster Rugby are publicly backing Ferris, which is a big deal.

Agreed, that they are backing him suggests the incident is either relatively minor and doesn't warrant a gross misconduct dismissal or that there is sufficent doubt over his participation/guilt in whatever incident has taken place, and they've chosen to back him.

red_stag wrote:I can't open those links. What is alledged to have happened..

Marcus, the line is that theres only one 1F in (one effing) Ferris.

Thanks Stag - assumed it must be something along those lines. I like it!

I'm guessing Ulster have been forced to make some sort of comment before rumours and things are made public and get blown out of proportion.

Maybe Ulster rugby are backing him because he was the victim. Just because someone is involved in a court case doesn't mean they are in the wrong. I'm not saying that he is. I don't know the circumstances. But this is a possibility.

This appears a strange case. Ulster Rugby make an announcement, but with no detail. Why make the announcement if it will only lead to wild and random specualtion, and specualtion always goes to the worst. There must be something hitting the media sometime soon. But there is no way we can even react to the announcement without more information.

Pre-emtive action. Clearly it was going to come out sooner or later, let it come out on your terms...

Willy,
But without disclosing any aspect of the issue, we are free to speculate. Could be anything from getting in a fight in front of a McDonalds to a ticket for speeding. And people will think the worst.

Sunday rag is reporting that Ferris has been charged with assult after an incident involving 3 people outside a house party, one of whom came away from the situation with a broken nose.

After a brief look at what was reported I'm actually not too worried. Ferris appears confident nothing will come of this, stating he has done nothing wrong and is happy to go to court to prove this. Ulster rugby are also saying they support him completely, not something they would say if they weren't confident in their mans version of events.

There is a woman involved. This may indicate why it has come this far, if it had been 3 other blokes it surely wouldn't have. (It wasnt the woman who recieved the injury)

Obviously if found guilty, I will reconsider my thoughts, but right now, given what (admittedly little) I've heard, and the known character of Ferris, this appears to be much ado about nothing.

Only point of concern is the fact it has taken so long to get to court/become public. This would indicate the police have given it genuine careful consideration, and the other people involved are determined and confident of pushing their case. But as said before, despite the tabloid speculation, I believe Ferris's fitness is more concern than this case.

Sounds like nothing, especially if a broken nose is the worst anyone came away with. Hope to see him in the WC.

The fact Ulster Rugby support him completely is interesting. People have lost their contracts at Ulster for less. It's like if Wasps came out and publically supported Andy Powell.

Maybe there is nothing in it after all.

Sunday rag is reporting that Ferris has been charged with assult after an incident involving 3 people outside a house party, one of whom came away from the situation with a broken nose.
There is a woman involved. This may indicate why it has come this far, if it had been 3 other blokes it surely wouldn't have. (It wasnt the woman who recieved the injury)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It does not matter who received the injury assault is assault.
Is he being taken to court as the victim or the perpetrator or is he simply just a witness to what went on ?

Can everyone please remember that this is still speculation.

Logie has posted a repot from a newspaper that may or not be accurate.

Hobo

I beleive it is accurate in the sense that Ferris has been accused of assault. He is actually quoted as saying he wasnt worried about this coming out as he had been waiting for it for 2 years.

What is idle speculation is actually hypothesising what actually happened. Ferris and his team will have one account and im sure the other sides version will be different.

Absolutely Hobo, I know nothing more than what I read, and facts are thin on the ground. I just have a gut feeling, based on what I heard and what I know about Ferris, that this won't come to much.

However, while obviously wanting to think the best and support Ferris in this, I wouldn't like to disparage, or question the character of the people on the other side in this issue in any way just because they aren't rugby heros!

We'll let the courts sort it, and won't condemn of celebrate wither way.

Ulster are backing him. They didn't back Neil Best or Wilson.

Read into that what you will

Update:

Ireland rugby International Stephen Ferris has denied assaulting two men while his older brother admitted assaulting one of the alleged victims.
The 25-year-old British and Irish Lion's rugby star appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday.

The Ulster winger pleaded not guilty to one charge of causing actual bodily harm to Colm Conlon and one of common assault on James McGinley on September 27 2009.

David Ferris (28) and with the same address at Chestnut Hall Avenue in Moira, pleaded guilty to causing Mr Conlon actual bodily harm on the same date.

Defence QC Liam McCollum, appearing for both brothers, said there was no issue whether David Ferris was dealt with before the trial of his brother.

He added however that the winger will be in New Zealand "over September and October and he has serious commitments in November".

Setting a trial date for the last week in November, Judge Geoffrey Millar QC released both men on continuing bail and ordered pre-sentence probation reports for David Ferris.

© UTV News

Source - http://www.u.tv/News/Irish-rugby-star-denies-assault/4e8b68f5-d395-4c28-9b83-ce7255b4f2e2

Sloppy Journalism there with Ferris twice referred to as a Winger.

Oh how I wished they had misspelled their address too. Make much more sense if they came from Moria.

Hobo wrote:Cryptic announcement on the Ulster website:

Crikey!

Seems pretty serious! If you make any comments on this, please obviously be aware of the legality of any speculation!

Hobo mate,

You seem to have a knack for sensational headlines, maybe you should use 606v2 as a launch pad to an editorship of one of the major tabloid papers?

Maes

Shhh Rodders keep it on the down low! From what I hear it's a new tactic next season for Ulster. Stick him on the wing and hope the opposition don't notice him till he collects a IH crossfield kick and simultaneously runs through the opposing winger and full back.

Not what Ferris needs at all. I'm sure he's 100% focused on getting fit for the WC (Ireland shouldn't take him unless he's been able to prove his fitness), but this sort of distraction is never helpful.

Personally I hope this goes away and he's fully fit for the WC. Really want to see him discover that form he showed on the Lions tour, when he really did start to look a world class player (and I don't mean in the Welsh sense of the word).

Moved from the Pub thread;

Rava wrote:Oh dear oh dear. Could be quite serious for 1F then

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13862540

To be honest Rava, this is mainly nothing that wasn't already in the public domain. Identities of the victims, charge and so on was already known. Sounds like his brother may be the one who's in trouble... he and UR seem to have no real worries about it. Stephen Ferris is protesting innocence and Ulster Rugby are backing him up. Whether Ulster are right or wrong to back him remains to be seen

I'm actually quite pleased in a weird way, because it says he's expected to be in NZ in September and October- is the knee coming along well?

Hope he is innocent, and if he's not I hope he is dealt with appropriately. But the truth is we really don't know either way. I'm quite pleased that the trial is on the last weekend of November. Means it's after our two Heineken Cup games that month.

I see they got the date of the Trial set - until after the RWC. Not nice to have hanging over you though.

And... we know nowt yet. So best be careful. But it looks to me like his older bro is taking the fall. If they were attacked and were defending themselves, then it is a whole different ball-game.

How do you prove that though? I hope there were witnessess. Reliable ones.

Still, best not be near ANY trouble considering his profile. Easier said than done I know.

I met him and he just comes across as a gentle-giant to me. Very mellow man. Off the field that is.

And after the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup as well Gibbo. I don't think it'll get to him that much as he said he's been waiting for this for two years. If anything gets to him it will be if he is hounded by the tabloid press over it. Hopefully that won't affect him if he is away from the local (Norn Iron) rags first in Kildare then in New Zealand.

We have no idea who started it, what provocation was involved if any, what the scuffle consisted of if anything, whether it was a fight or a one-sided incident, whether one person lead it or what! So there's really very little to say. His brother has pleaded guilty, he's pleaded innocent, Ulster Rugby are giving Ferris their full backing in public and we won't know more for quite a wee while!

It's far from ideal for Ireland and Ulster.

The fact his brother pleaded guilty isn't such good news. I know if it had been my brother and I was there.... well!!

I'd love to know more details on this before giving a proper view. All I'll say is that if 1f hit me, I'm sure it would be for a good reason and I'd probably let it slide especially in a WC year.

roddersm wrote:Sloppy Journalism there with Ferris twice referred to as a Winger.

Maybe that's what started it?

THe reason I feel confident concerning his conduct is that, off the pitch, he is one the most placid and even tempered members of the team.

In fact really struggling to think of who in the team is more chilled out.

WillyGilly wrote:I'd love to know more details on this before giving a proper view. All I'll say is that if 1f hit me, I'm sure it would be for a good reason and I'd probably let it slide especially in a WC year.

If Ferris hit me I'm not sure I'd know what year it was!

We all have to remember that these are rugby players, many of us were formerly, some still are..!

I got up to some great japes, remember our club bus being chased down the M5 then M4 by the Exeter constabulary for allegedly stealing a prized stuffed pig (the taxidermist kind) from an exeter rugby pub. I also remember many fights, scuffles and altracations...!

It's an aggressive sport played by men who, bar Dan Parks, aren't scared of physical confrontation. A culture of generous measures of alcohol and drinking games are as much part of rugby history as hymns and humorous rugby songs.

Should we really be all that surprised when a player is reprimanded for what is considered by the media as unruly behavior...?

Although I concede that Andy Powell is a complete pillock, it amuses me to think of his grand children asking him what was he doing in a golf cart on the motorway at four in the morning?