Rugby coach criticised for 'playing like women' comment

A top rugby coach has apologised after saying a team were "playing like women" during a live TV broadcast.

Former Wales flanker Lyn Jones made the comment during half-time of S4C's coverage of Dragons' 74–21 defeat by Benetton in Italy in the European Challenge Cup.

Jones, 61, described Dragons' performance as "appalling" before saying the team were "playing like women", adding an apology immediately afterwards.

Presenter Catrin Heledd offered an alternative comparison of "playing like children", while former Wales women's international Sioned Harries was heard laughing as they moved on.

S4C said the comment was "clearly unacceptable", adding it was pleased Jones had apologised.

Hattie Bradshaw, who runs the Rugby History Project podcast, said the comment reflected a wider issue within the sport.

"My immediate reaction was 'this is textbook misogyny'," she said.

"Saying 'played like women' in a negative way, he's implying that women are inferior."

Bradshaw, 29, said she was not surprised by the comment, given recent scrutiny of culture within Welsh rugby.

She said comparisons such as "played like a woman" were often used as insults, adding: "There is no excuse... He meant it like an insult, he said it as an insult."

Bradshaw also pointed to misogynistic abuse aimed at women across the sport, including players, commentators and administrators.

"Whether it be Welsh women's teams, whether it be the Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney - she's had a whole lot of misogyny thrown at her," she said.

"It makes you question if she was a man in the position that she was in, I don't think she would get some of the criticism that she faces."

Jones apologised for his comment, but Bradshaw said the damage had already been done.

"The headline is already there, the comment is already out."

She added: "To me, it makes no difference whether he apologised or not.

"We are equal and we are there for a reason and at the end of the day, it's the same game."

Rugby player and university student Hollie Baker said the comment risked undermining progress made in the women's game.

"It's a throwaway comment that immediately sets women's rugby back before you've even sort of analysed what he's saying and why he's saying it," she said.

She continued: "Considering the development that women's rugby has undergone in the last sort of decade, especially in Wales, rugby has evolved yet it seems that the attitudes towards it haven't quite developed at the same pace."

The 19-year-old from Cardiff said comments made on a national broadcast could risk sabotaging women trying to establish themselves in the sport.

"It's arguably difficult enough trying to prove yourself as like a force to be reckoned with in a historically largely male-dominated environment, without having that process undermined, especially on national TV," she said.

Former Wales Women's rugby player Caryl James added she thought the comparison was "very sexist, outdated and offensive".

An S4C spokesperson said: "Comments such as this are clearly unacceptable. We were pleased that Lyn apologised during the broadcast but we've discussed what happened with the production company to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Jones has been approached for comment.