The Munster lock Gerbrandt Grobler has gained a lot of media attention recently. Some of it good most of it negative, here is my take on the issues that have raised and how it could have an affect on Munster, Ireland and Rugby as a whole.

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Back in 2015 when Grobler was a younger man playing in South Africa for the Western province he was convicted with a 2 year ban for testing positive for a drugs test. The substance he took was a type of steroid that is used to treat breast cancer, essentially it helps build muscle in your upper body. When he was caught taking the drugs that he did he admitted it straight away. He accepted the ban and served it. While he was banned Racing 92 offered him a contract at the club.

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Back in the Summer of 2017, Rassie Erasumus had an issue. Donnacha Ryan was leaving for Racing and the Scarlets wouldnt release Tadgh Beirne until the end of the 17/18 season so he was desperately short on second rows, he didn't think that there was any academy players were ready to step up to the senior team. As a result, he decided to sign an experienced player and would come in and be able to make a difference straight away. From Erasumus's point of view you can understand why Grobler was an inciting proposition. Before he was banned he was a very promising and exciting prospect in a South African system that prides itself on producing high quality second rows. For Erasumus, these factors outweighed the possible attention or criticism for the decision. He didn't get any.

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However, the next Munster coach did. The main reason that it did'n't come up when he actually signed was that he put pen to paper in the week of the third lions test when not a lot of media spotlights were shined on Munster. The media storm was delayed until a press conference only a few days ago where Johann Van Gran confirmed that he would be up for selection at the weekend. This is where it all started. Irish media blew up over the issue with lots of different points being raised. This was the first time that a convicted drugs cheat would potentially be put on display at such a high level in Ireland so naturally that was the main point of discussion revolving around performance enhancing drugs and the bans that come with them.

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For me, it is not right to say that Grobler should be banned for life nor is it for it to happen. Frankly I feel bad for the guy he came over looking forward to joining this new club and then he returns from his pre-season injury to everyone talking about him some even saying things like it is wrong for him to be allowed to be playing rugby. Although I understand why some were so harsh towards him. In so many, too many, sports the gradual development of more and more athletes doping and taking the kind of drugs that Grobler took has crippled the sport. Take cycling for example, it is so sad to see what happened to cycling where doping is almost just a part of the sport. That's why I understand. In lots of these cases the arguments are so strongly opinionated  because they don't want it to happen to rugby. For that reason it is hard not to understand.

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Even though I understand, it doesn't mean that I agree. In my opinion, I don't think that anyone should be banned for life. I do think that possibly increasing the length of the ban would find a good balance. Two years doesn't seem long enough for something that is essentially cheating. As for Grobler I think we should all move on.  He was a young man under pressure that made a mistake, he held up his hands and admitted to it. He should be forgiven; but not forgotten. Doping will slowly creep into Rugby if we aren't careful and we must be sure to have a global intolerance towards it. For the Love of the game.

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