XXX Iain Gardiner ("Bubba") - Reinstatement as Hamilton Hawks U13 Junior Coach

He is an awesome coach please reinstate.

Continuing on from my other comment… Being a “good bloke” for 15 years does not place someone above accountability. The whole “reinstate him while the investigation continues” line is exactly the problem with junior sport culture sometimes, loyalty to mates over basic standards and child protection boundaries. Loyalty to mates seem to have compromised the selection process judging by the score line between a rep and club side lol If the governing body have stood old down, there’s a reason. Let the process happen instead of running a sympathy campaign trying to pressure people into ignoring what actually occurred on the field. And if anyone wants footage of the sideline behaviour and the comments being made during the game, feel free to contact me. You can hear it for yourselves. As for this petition, stick it where the sun don’t shine old bud deserves everything he gets

Common sense should prevail

Iain is an outstanding role model to young rugby players and wonderful human being who would always do what’s right in any situation.

Let commonsense happen and the right thing to happen until proven otherwise.

Ian has recently provided 1:1 coaching with my son. He displayed respect and encouragement towards my son with his coaching at all times.

Iain has my full support and took action for the safety of all players.

I support iain

Iain is a man of the highest integrity whom I highly value at both professional and personal levels. He is a great asset to the game and should be reinstated immediately, to the benefit of not himself, but the children whom he mentors and coaches.

Champion fella

Iain is a thoroughly decent guy who devotes his time to doing good for the sport he loves & the kiddos who are part of the rugby family. No way should he be stepped down.

Iain is a top man, giving much time to sport and the welfare and safeguarding of everyone.

I want my coach back please

2 months ago Featured

I have known Iain for over 30 years, and have played rugby alongside him for many years. He is a fantastic guy and the kind of bloke you want to teach kids not only how to play the game but how to play in the right spirit of the game. I would 100% support his reinstatement to the coaching role. Guys like Iain is what Rugby needs more of.

I’m sure he is a great bloke, I’m sure he’s a great mentor, and I’m sure he didn’t have the worst intentions. I was at that game and there absolutely were no kids running on the field while under supposed yellow cards, and there wasn’t one kid being targeted it was solid footy played by solid players . What there was, though, was a large group of adults creating an environment that ended with a trainer becoming overwhelmed and putting hands on a 13-year-old boy. I personally stood amongst the crowd of parents from the losing team for the final 20-odd minutes, and what I heard coming out of their mouths was repulsive — targeted, aggressive, and honestly some of the worst behaviour I’ve heard at a junior game. That crowd created the environment that caused the trainer to react the way he did I have no doubt in that moment he was overwhelmed most people would be with all that carry on so congrats to all you grown adults you did that . And now, instead of accountability being shown by the adults involved, we’re treating 12- and 13-year-old kids like they’re the boogeymen. Perhaps there’s a bigger issue here

As a life member of Hamilton rugby club I can honestly attest to Iain’s excellent character both on and off the rugby field.

All these comments about great bloke, mentor, good with kids blah blah blah completely miss the actual issue. This wasn’t about whether he’s popular around the club or whether people like him personally. It was about an adult entering the field of play during a junior game and physically grabbing a child that was not his own. That is exactly why safeguarding rules and codes of conduct exist. You can’t preach player welfare while defending an adult crossing a boundary that every coach, trainer and volunteer knows exists for a reason. If any random parent ran onto the field and grabbed a kid, people would lose their minds, but because it’s someone well known at the club, suddenly everyone wants to excuse it away. The comments trying to label a 12–13 year old child as “the offender” are honestly embarrassing. These are bloody children. Adults are supposed to de-escalate situations properly, not physically involve themselves in live play because old bud couldn’t handle his emotions. And while everyone is now pretending this was all about ‘protecting kids’ I was actually at the game. Every single time this child touched the ball or got tackled, you could hear grown adults on the sideline cheering and carrying on. Imagine being a grown ass adult targeting one child at an U13s game and then trying to lecture everyone else about welfare and sportsmanship afterwards

Good man Ian, whoever are that decision needs sanctioning. Done more for Rugby than most

Please reinstate bubba as under 13 hawks coach.

Should be reinstated