Austin Healey has called for closer checks on player's ghosted columns after picking up a £2000 fine for comments attributed to him during the tour of Australia. The Leicester star has called for the Lions authorities to exercise their right to vet columns and also admitted the players had to take some of the blame as well.
"I am disappointed that the Disciplinary Committee - having accepted that I did not write nor did I say or agree with what was written in the article, nor that I had an opportunity to check the article - still found that I was guilty of such a grave offence of bringing the tour party and the Lions into disrepute," said Healey.
"Players clearly have to accept the responsibility imposed upon them when they enter into contracts to have newspaper columns written in their name," Healey added. "I should have checked what was being written in my name. Similarly if the management of the team allow players to enter into such contracts and retain the power to vet such columns, they should also ensure that process is carried out."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
