We must educate sporting leaders to look beyond toxic win-at-all-costs approaches | Cath Bishop

12/09/2024 03:00 AM

Danny Care's whistleblowing suggests there remains too much of a grey area between tough training, bullying and abuse

Danny Care's stories about the England rugby environment under Eddie Jones reveal important insights into the ways that sport is experienced, organised and led. Beyond the shocking examples of belittling and bullying that he alleges, a picture emerges of an ongoing, highly damaging cultural illiteracy among players, coaches and leaders.

It's striking how hard it was for Care and his teammates to speak up, for 100kg men bursting with muscles in the most macho of sports to call out what, according to Care, they saw as abusive behaviour that demeaned and damaged players. A cult-like code of silence has played out disastrously in other sports such as gymnastics and cycling; it feels as if there is still a sinister omertà latent in sport that needs addressing.