Young players make mistakes all the time - judge Manu Tuilagi and Dylan Hartley on rugby not as role models

I want to address the holy cow that sports stars should be seen as role models.

Quite simply, why? This has vexed me for some time and we saw another example of it when centre Manu Tuilagi was dropped from the World Cup squad to protect the brand of English rugby.

I am not for one moment condoning what Tuilagi did, but young people make mistakes all the time.

Making mistakes when you are young is what makes you slightly wiser when you are older.

Personally I would much rather let myself down off the pitch, than potentially let my team down on the pitch.

From a playing point of vie…