Louis Ludik “feels sorry” for Paddy Jackson, after his international career was ended despite his acquittal in the 2018 rape trial that shocked Irish rugby.
The Ulster out half, along with team mate Stuart Olding, was found not guilty of sexual assault in March 2018, but their IRFU and Ulster contracts were revoked a month later.
“We didn’t know if they did it or didn’t do it, and you are only guilty if you are found guilty [in court],” Ludik said.
“I don’t judge anyone, people are different in how they were brought up, their environment, what’s culturally acceptable. The problem a lot of times, in culture – maybe a drinking culture – is you can be pushed and you have to drink, but if you become the alcoholic you’re pushed aside.
“A lot of times, people push you up to a point, and if you fall off the cliff then you’re the bad guy.
“They were acquitted, so in my eyes they’re not guilty, but people sleep around, but whenever it's sports people or people in the limelight you get punished so much.
“They made such a big thing out of it, and it was a big thing, but I just felt so sorry for them. Their whole lives were ruined by it.
“Paddy was meant to take over from Johnny [Sexton] some day, it was such a big future ahead – I just felt so sorry for them.”
