Munster close down fans’ forum

THE official Munster rugby website has closed its supporters’ forum due to a minority of posters using the facility “to ridicule and deride” Munster officials, players and moderators of the website. A statement posted on the site yesterday added that the forum had been closed at the urging of those three groups.

The statement reads: “The website management have decided, after long and careful consideration, to discontinue the Messageboard Forum of www.munsterrugby.ie.

“Various efforts have been made over the past number of years to moderate/monitor the forum in order that those who have engaged in reasonable robust debate could continue to do so. Regretfully, we have not managed to eliminate the minority element who use the cloak of anonymity to ridicule and deride.

“There are unfortunately a few whose comments are offensive both to the people who operate the site, Munster Branch officials and the Munster players.

“It is at the urging therefore of those three groups that the decision to discontinue has been taken.”

A spokesman for Munster Rugby said yesterday that some of the posts “went beyond poking fun”, adding that individuals had personalised comment beyond what was acceptable. However, he said reopening the forum would be considered if it could be moderated properly.