Rugby club president banned from sport for repeatedly undoing staff member’s bra

The president of a Yorkshire rugby club has been banned from the sport for three years after undoing a female employee’s bra in public at a fundraising event.

Neil Arton, president and director of Bridlington RUFC, was found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the game by an independent panel at a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing in July this year, with his appeal quashed a month later. Arton, whose “reprehensible” case has caused a “schism within the Bridlington RUFC community”, is prohibited from attending or being a member of any RFU affiliated rugby club for three years – with one suspended – meaning he will not be able to return to the sport until July 2026 at the earliest. Arton denied the charges and claimed he had been the victim of a “stitch-up”.

The incident in question occurred on July 8, 2023, with a police investigation – there were no criminal charges – delaying RFU action. Bridlington RFC hosted a “Party in the Park” fundraising event and the victim, anonymised throughout the written judgment as X, said that “at a relatively early stage of the day she overheard Arton refer to the girth of his penis, in an apparent attempt at humour”, before the afternoon took a more sinister turn.

X elaborated and said that “throughout the day Arton would regularly approach her and try to undo her bra strap with one hand” and that he had stated that “he had always been good at managing to do so”. With Arton’s hand repeatedly making contact with X’s bra strap through her upper clothing, she asked him to stop, did not understand why he was behaving in such a manner, and that it was inappropriate.

Victim told she ‘put up’ with club president’s ‘assault’

Later, Arton managed, on one occasion, close to the event’s BBQ, to undo X’s bra strap “leaving her breasts unsupported”. She remarked that Arton “appeared to find this amusing” and thereafter avoided him. She informed one or more club directors what had happened and considered the incident to be “assault”.

A witness was called by the panel, who admitted having seen Arton “‘twang’ X’s bra strap on two occasions”. The witness said that X responded after the first attempt, making it clear to Arton that he should not continue. Arton continued and the witness intervened, telling X that she should not “put up with it”.

On July 20, 12 days after the alleged assault, both X and Arton spoke on the phone. X challenged Arton on his actions and the president replied saying he was only “having a laugh”. X told the panel that Arton offered to step down as president but that this never transpired. She added that she felt under pressure from Arton and his wife, Caroline, regarding the accusations. X added that the incident had “impacted adversely on her attitude towards engaging with the club and participating in club activities”. Arton admitted that his daughter was also present at the event.

The witness continued: “Arton subsequently admitted having ‘twanged’ X’s bra strap. He said this was at the conclusion of a club directors’ meeting which he thought took place on August 2.” The witness’s statement, dated April 2 this year, recounted how Arton had admitted “pulling under [X’s] clothing” and that he had apologised for doing so and was happy to resign. Remarks made, the witness said, as the meeting adjourned. The witness added that news of the incident had spread “all around the rugby club” and that, in his view, Arton had engaged in a “vendetta” against X regarding the defence of the accusation.

President escaped other allegation that was ‘just banter’

Another sexual-assault allegation against Arton, where he said he would “love to bury his head in [the victim’s] t---”, among other allegations, was not upheld by the panel. In a phone call with this complainant, Arton dismissed the incident with X as “just banter”.

Arton made clear that he had provided a significant contribution to Bridlington RUFC, particularly by raising money, but in also giving up time, and that he had abuse shouted at him from “all over the town”. The panel acknowledged that the club “is and remains an important part of Arton’s life”, adding: “He is acutely conscious of this fall from grace, albeit it is entirely of his own making. Sadly, Arton ignored the advice and efforts of others connected with the club who suggested he alter his behaviour. Instead, he has turned against those who in fact sought to act out of concern for his welfare. Arton’s conduct during the hearing does not encourage the panel to have much by way of hope that he has learned any lessons thus far, or that he is receptive to doing so in the future.”

The panel prohibited Arton from “attending or being a member of any RFU affiliated rugby club” for three years, one suspended and ordered him to pay £125 in costs. The panel noted that Arton’s behaviour was “very serious” because it was: “persistent, deliberate, designed to humiliate, grossly invaded X’s personal space and dignity, bore a sexual connotation, carried a significant power imbalance [given] Arton was a director of the club”. The panel also noted that Arton ignored pleas to resist, exhibited zero remorse, and that there were eye-witnesses. “The fact that the police chose not to prefer charges has no relevance,” the panel added.

“Arton’s actions were wrong and wholly unacceptable in any circumstances, but in the context of his position in the club, and in the context of his duty to uphold and promote the values and ethos of the game, and inclusivity in sport as a whole, what he did is properly to be regarded as particularly reprehensible,” read the appeal verdict. In separate remarks, the panel noted: “If there ever was a time when such behaviour might be tolerated, it is now long gone and Arton needs to realise that.”

Arton appealed on Aug 28 on the grounds that the sanction was so excessive as to be unreasonable, but it was quashed by a fresh, independent panel.