In the academically driven society of Singapore, the cream of rugby players under the age of 25 not only has to cope with life as a professional player, they also have to double up part time as aspiring students struggling to clear their academic units every semester.

From the first day of tearing themselves from the green blades of grass to throd on the cement pavements of NUS, NTU and most recently SMU, rugby players have struggled to adapt to their new environment what with the new setting and the totally new set of regulations.

Where uniformity and team work prevailed on the field, every rugby player donned an identical set of jersey and played to a structured set of game play and phases. For the luckier ones who are backed by rich Ang Moh bankers who double up as mafia hitmen at night, they even get sponsored shorts, socks and underwear. Despite the small discrepancy, all rugby players look to the ones perched right at the top and emulate their success story, be it a well worked backs move, fit forwards who run and tackle all day, or even steamrolling everyone with truckloads of cash(SCC?).

However, in the academic world, it is a whole new ball game. Intellectual property rights are very much enforced and academicians do not condone acts of plagiarism being done right under their noses. In fact, SMU even has a link about academic integrity that warns their students against such acts.

Imagine the editorial board's surprise where we discovered an article in SMU's monthly digest that appeared to be copied word for word right off this blog. The extra goofy photos attached to their version of the article is a half hearted and lame attempt in trying to cover up their lack of respect for the artistic work of our journalists. Apparently these SMU players chose the easiest way out to enjoy instant fame and recognition, and conveniently rubbed salt into the wounds of NTU who are still smarting from the two successive defeats in both finals on Sunday. Click here
for the 'SMU article'

"What they(SMU) did can be described as despicable. It is almost equivalent to copying in mid term exams. They beat us fair and square in the 7s, i respect that. Giants like us (NTU) and NUS are actually using this tourney to develop the younger players. Nobody celebrates winning the inter-toto cup right? The very least he/she could do is to acknowledge the e-rugby editors. There are friends in SMU who are equally disgusted." said Potato Thiam.

"I refresh this page every 5 minutes for the interesting and original articles that are constantly being produced hot from the oven. It is certainly too much for them to just take away all the fun and excitement in the only activity worth cheering about in my life now. What am I going to do if I cant refresh anymore???" said Refresher (NTURugbyNews fan from SMU).

"The sausage is damn awesome laa...that guy over there is my sausage, I can eat him all day and night!!Let me go and sharpen my teeth now" said Rebel Rong, who was eyeing the official sausage man on Sunday Mark "Tight fit t-shirts" Koh and oblivious about the question being posed to him.

This blatant act of plagiarism has hit the editors real hard, the very ones who sacrificed much social life into the development of this young startup. It is yet to be seen if NTURugbyNews can recover from the cheap imitations originating from City hall.

"We are the winners and we can do what we want. I don't have to explain my actions to anyone. We proved ourselves on the field and that's all it matters." SMU Maestro Daniel Marc Chow was in no mood to explain himself as he went up on stage to collect his Lee Kuan Yew Best Journalist Award for his write up on the NUS 7s tournament, proudly confered upon by Straits Times Singapore.

"It is ok to plagiarise. At least give us credit for it. But to show no remorse at all is a showing of poor manners. I pity the poor boy and i wish he finds peace with his soul.." sighed Stormy Normy who has recently taken up a module on spiritual wellbeing.

e-rugby officials confirmed with us at 2357 that they might consider taking legal actions.