Disclaimer: We have a blanket editorial ban on that word b****r. We will publish it once as a quote directly attributed to Warren Gatland.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland has apologised for terming the 'gypsy boy' comment Joe Marler aimed at Samson Lee as 'banter'. Marler is facing investigation from the Six Nations over the incident, in which it is alleged that he called Welsh prop Samson Lee a 'gypsy boy'. Should he be found guilty, Marler will face a four week ban.
Gatland had his say on the incident yesterday:
It was just a bit of b****r as far as I was concerned. Joe said to Samson at half-time it was just a bit of fun and Samson had no issue with him. Twenty years ago, this sort of thing was sorted out with fists and stuff and I do not want to make a massive issue of it, let’s put it to bed.
Gatland has today apologised for such a glib remark, via a statement by the Welsh Rugby Union:
I don’t condone racism of any kind. I apologise for any offence my use of the word banter may have caused.
My intention was to take the focus away from Samson, a private individual, and enable him and the rest of squad to prepare for the final game of the championship. My comments were made following a discussion with Samson about the incident.
He believed Joe made his comment in the heat of the moment, he later regretted it and apologised, but Samson believes it wasn’t racist in intent and he accepted Joe’s apology.
While we await the findings of the Six Nations investigation into this incident it would be inappropriate for me, Samson or the team to comment further on this matter.
