Warren Gatland apologises for referring to ‘Gypsy boy’ insult as ‘just banter’

The Wales head coach Warren Gatland has apologised for referring to the insult Joe Marler aimed at Samson Lee as "just banter".

Marler is facing a four-week ban should he be charged and found guilty of calling the Wales tighthead a "Gypsy boy" during England's victory at Twickenham, a comment picked up on the microphone of the referee, Craig Joubert.

The England prop, who is already facing a disciplinary hearing this week after being cited for allegedly elbowing Wales’s other starting prop, Rob Evans, apologised to Lee at half-time, On Tuesday Gatland had suggested it was time to let the matter drop, saying: “It was just a bit of banter as far as I was concerned. Joe said to Samson at half-time it was just a bit of fun and Samson had no issue with him. Twenty years ago, this sort of thing was sorted out with fists and stuff and I do not want to make a massive issue of it, let’s put it to bed.”

However, after protests over his comments, the Wales coach issued a statement on Wednesday emphasising: “I don’t condone racism of any kind. I apologise for any offence my use of the word banter may have caused.

“My intention was to take the focus away from Samson, a private individual, and enable him and the rest of squad to prepare for the final game of the championship. My comments were made following a discussion with Samson about the incident.

“He believed Joe made his comment in the heat of the moment, he later regretted it and apologised, but Samson believes it wasn’t racist in intent and he accepted Joe’s apology.

"While we await the findings of the Six Nations investigation into this incident it would be inappropriate for me, Samson or the team to comment further on this matter."

The Welsh Rugby Union issued a statement of its own, echoing the coach’s words, which said: “The WRU does not condone racism of any kind.

"The incident is being investigated by Six Nations and we would welcome a definitive and speedy conclusion to their investigation. The WRU recognises that Warren's overriding intention was to protect Samson by playing down the incident and that his comments were made following a thorough consultation with Samson and with his support."

Lee, meanwhile, had his own statement to add into the mix, saying: “I would like to explain my point of view. I stand beside Warren.

“I personally believe the comments to have been intended as banter and accepted Joe’s apology on Saturday. Warren is fiercely protective of the team and his comments were made based on conversations with me and with the intention of deflecting attention away from me.”

Earlier Shay Clipson, founder of the national alliance of gypsy, traveller and Roma women, was quoted by Walesonline.co.uk demanding that Gatland retract his remark that the insult was “just banter” and describing him as “a very, very poor ambassador for Welsh rugby”.

She said: “Twenty years ago, we did not have the equalities act. The WRU need to train him. He needs diversity training and he really needs to be quiet until he knows what he’s talking about.

“He should get on with teaching people how to play rugby and leave the niceties and the polite stuff to people who have got a little bit more savvy.”

Guardian services