Rugby's struggle for global superstars is evident, as seen in the contrasting reactions to Jaden Hendrikse's sly wink and Northampton's Henry Pollock's flamboyant celebrations. Rugby needs larger-than-life personalities to grow the game.
“Winkgate” stole the headlines after Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) quarterfinal clash between the Sharks and Munster, which the South African side won 6-4 by place-kicking shootout after the sides were tied 24-24 after 100 minutes of rugby.
It didn’t take too much to divert the attention from a match that, outside of the first place-kicking shootout in URC history, offered very little in terms of extended quality entertainment while the referee’s clock was running in regular time and the 20 minutes of extra time.
But a cheeky wink by one of the kickers in the place-kicking shootout, Jaden Hendrikse, aimed at Munster flyhalf Jack Crowley spurred a few days of social media outbursts from rugby fans globally, calling the act “unsportmanlike” and “against the values of the game”, along with plenty more unsavoury comments directed towards the Sharks scrumhalf.
Jack Crowley of Munster during the United Rugby Championship match between Cell C Sharks and Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on 22 April 2023 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo: Darren Stewart / Gallo Images)
