I certainly don't pity you, if this is true you've got a player who will give 110% on the pitch every week. Despite comments from others on here he has been one of our most consistent performers this season and I will be sorry to see him go but will follow his career with interest

Belly??? Absolute numpty! Such a raw talent just gone to waste. Should have been England no4 that lad. Wasted every opportunity given to him.
Ben on t'other hand didn't. At least in training and on match days he continued to make a name for himself in a positive light - as opposed to the other side of his life.
That's why I think, on balance, it's a worthy signing. As I said in the previous post - if he faces up to his responsibilities and the consequences of his own actions - then moves on!
Do that positively and Fev will benefit. That's my standpoint at the mo. I have no reason to be otherwise opinionated for now.

Exactly Trace - and that's what I'm looking at at the mo - his value to Rovers on the pitch.

Sorry tracey but how chances has ben had , do we continue to ignore off the field stuff and say do anything u like ben, look I've always soft spot for fev and if ben keeps his mouth shut keeps his nose clean and keep his head down and let his rugby do his talking then yeah he's a great player we shall see its down to ben to prove himself again

And there's the rub Zook!

Though he's had plenty of chances before and this is a full time job he's been in yet not behaved?

And if he screws up again, out the door he goes. But as I've said, this lad is proven in SL and leaving other issues aside will be a cracking addition for the run in. Can't see why its such an issue. Either it works for him and fev - in which case we're laughing. Or it doesn't and he's looking for another club.

TBH, you will not find fault with his onfield stuff, he is a 110% player, its his other stuff that needs sorting and I doubt a move to a club so close to his own turf will help that, he would have been better at Crusaders or Quins (he is too good for NL1).

Didn't Bell attack a referee?

Allegedly

Three times in trouble in one year, but nothing in the previous five. Lets hope thats it, and he gets back to playing like he can.

exactly!

No, just threatened him after battering someone on the pitch.

He's certainly done "more" than Cockayne, but he's never kicked a man half to death who was already prone on the floor. TBH it's a poor comparison, neither should be playing the game.

Oh, and he's not racist.

The story goes that he locked one in a changing room after a game then went to pub!!!

But he WAS suspended sine die and had to fight tooth and nail to have the ban lifted, then found himself behind bars once again. Both he and his brother could have been very good rugby players, both had the size and weight to be leaders in the pack or in the centres.



As for Ben Cockayne, it was 4 years ago that Ben was in a fight, yes he went too far and admitted that he had made a terrible drunken error.

As said 4yrs ago! Then he posts something silly on facebook, not illegal but certainly frowned upon and once again he was fined and issued a public apology.

His latest issue was more about breaking club rules and even then nothing has been proven to say he was drinking while on a club ban. The problem was he was in a car with a drunken team mate who was driving. He then apparently ran from police but if it were your job on the line I think I'd be tempted to try and get away. The police questioned him but never arrested him or cautioned him.

I am not sure this "baggage" tag really sticks, he's done one major, one minor and to be quite honest the last issue wouldn't have even made the papers had it been anyone else in the car with Wattsy.

The reason he is out on loan instead of sacked? The club probably can't sack him, I am not sure but he obviously would have a case and the club know the only way to get rid is to get to the end of his contract.

Oh and 9 penalties in 17 games this season, 14 in 23 last season, 9 in 15 in 2009, 22 in 23 - 2008 and our first SL season 2007 he gave away 7 penalties in 23 games! Hardly a penalty machine except for 2008 and it was still only around 1 per game.

You know Ian well? I'm not saying he is racist but unless you know him personally it would be hard for you to say with any confidence that he isn't.

Ian Bell has not only done "more" than Benny he has attacked innocent people and I'd not be so sure he has never kicked someone half to death either, the guy is capable of anything and I think the courts know that all too well.