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The comment was made during coverage of the Dragons’ defeat to Benetton in the European Challenge Cup
S4C has apologised for the “unacceptable” comments made by Dragons coach Lyn Jones.
The former Wales flanker and pundit has been criticised for claiming his former side were ‘playing liker women’ during half-time coverage of the Dragons’ 74-21 defeat to Benetton in the European Challenge Cup.
Presenter Catrin Heledd offered an alternative comparison of “playing like children” at the time, while former Wales women’s international Sioned Harries could be heard laughing as they moved on.
Jones apologised for the comments, which S4C noted had crossed a line.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: “Comments such as this are clearly unacceptable. We were pleased that Lyn apologised during the broadcast but we’ve discussed what happened with the production company to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Despite an apology from Jones, Cardiff Harlequins star Hollie Baker said the comments risked undermining progress made in the women’s game in Wales.
“It’s a throwaway comment that immediately sets women’s rugby back before you’ve even sort of analysed what he’s saying and why he’s saying it,” she told the BBC.
“Considering the development that women’s rugby has undergone in the last sort of decade, especially in Wales, rugby has evolved yet it seems that the attitudes towards it haven’t quite developed at the same pace.
“It’s arguably difficult enough trying to prove yourself as like a force to be reckoned with in a historically largely male-dominated environment, without having that process undermined, especially on national TV.”
Hattie Bradshaw, who runs the Rugby History Project podcast, added that the the comment reflected the wider issue around sexism within the sport.
“My immediate reaction was ‘this is textbook misogyny’,” she said.
“Saying ‘played like women’ in a negative way, he’s implying that women are inferior.
“There is no excuse… He meant it like an insult, he said it as an insult.
“To me, it makes no difference whether he apologised or not.
“We are equal and we are there for a reason and at the end of the day, it’s the same game.”
