Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Scarlets condemn 'wholly unacceptable' abuse directed at Ross Moriarty's 13-year-old cousin and vow to investigate

The Scarlets have condemned the "wholly unacceptable" abuse allegedly directed at Ross Moriarty's 13-year-old cousin during the New Year's Day clash between the west Walians and the Dragons.

Moriarty had posted on Instagram on Wednesday evening to slam the "grown men screaming in her face" after Moriarty's young cousin had attempted to defend the Wales No. 8.

And the Scarlets have now responded, promising to investigate the matter further were Moriarty's family to get in touch.

A statement from the Scarlets said: “We are extremely disappointed to read of the incident involving Ross Moriarty’s cousin at the New Year’s Day match against the Dragons. We work extremely hard with our supporters’ organisations Crys16 and Scarlets Officials Supporters Group to create a family-friendly environment for home and away fans at Parc y Scarlets and to hear of a young girl receiving verbal abuse from a fan is wholly unacceptable.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy to abuse of any nature at our stadium and encourage fans to report such incidents to the club. If the family would like to get in touch with us we will investigate this further.”

The Dragons back-row had been yellow carded for pulling Sione Kalamafoni's scrum cap off during a fracas, with the Tongan receiving a red card as he threw a couple of punches back at Moriarty. Kalamafoni has since been banned for two weeks, with the disciplinary panel deciding that the "highly provocative and potentially dangerous actions by Dragons No 8" were a factor in the ban not being longer.

The Wales international post on Instagram read: "I do not mind the abuse I receive online or on a rugby pitch from fans there will always be 2 sides, but to learn that on the weekend my little cousin who is 13 had grown men screaming in her face for asking them to stop abusing me verbally that does not sit right with me or should not sit right at any sports ground. That is a line I really hope people should not think is right to cross."

Read more:

Warren Gatland considers former England international to replace axed Stephen Jones

Sam Wainwright reveals brutal personal debrief after Georgia mauling as he tries to convince Gatland

Alun Wyn Jones set to be picked by Eddie Jones to finally make debut for famous team

The inside track on Warren Gatland's likely new Wales defence coach who aided England's 18-game winning streak

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.