A leading women’s charity has slammed Scottish rugby bosses after a player admitted domestically abusing his girlfriend during a harrowing 20-month ordeal, but has not yet been fired from his club.
Glasgow Warriors and Scotland rugby union player Rufus McLean, 22, used tracking systems to keep tabs on the phone of Cara Haston, 21, and demanded the passwords to her social media accounts.
The 13-stone player admitted leaving his victim, from Edinburgh, with a burst lip and black eye after pushing her off him during one incident. He also called her a b***h and a s*** and sent her abusive text and social media messages, the court heard.
But although McLean was suspended following his guilty plea, no decision has yet been made about his future at the club – while a leading women’s charity claims there has been an ‘absence of concern’ for the victim within the sporting world.
The court was told Cara (pictured) was on a Spanish holiday in the summer of 2019 when McLean saw a photograph of her on social media and ‘took exception’ to what she was wearing, branding her a s***
McLean is facing the sack from his club after he admitted domestically abusing his girlfriend during a harrowing 20-month ordeal
The US-born winger, who has been capped three times for Scotland, is said to have had no contact with the club since then, and his career hangs in the balance.
McLean, who made his senior Scotland debut in October 2021 against Tonga, pleaded guilty last month to engaging in a course of ’emotionally abusive and controlling’ behaviour between April 2019 and January 2021.
Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, criticised the sport’s hierarchy for failing to show any concern for Miss Haston over the scandal.
She said: ‘Everyone is responsible for challenging the culture that excuses domestic abuse, in our families, our workplaces, our communities, our favourite sports team.
‘The absence of any concern or consideration for the ordeal of Mr McLean’s victim and family, and the failure to rapidly, sincerely and comprehensively condemn anyone who chooses to abuse, is unfathomable in this day and age.’
A statement issued by Glasgow Warriors said: ‘Rufus McLean is suspended from all club activity and is unavailable for selection following a guilty plea to charges under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 in December 2022.
‘Glasgow Warriors does not condone abuse of any kind and therefore, along with Scottish Rugby, immediately suspended the player following his plea.
‘An internal investigation has been instigated and a disciplinary hearing will be held this week.’
The club added: ‘Legal proceedings in this matter are not concluded, therefore no further comment will be made at this time.’
McLean, who made his senior Scotland debut in October 2021 against Tonga, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing, which was deferred for a month.
He pleaded guilty last month to engaging in a course of ’emotionally abusive and controlling’ behaviour between April 2019 and January 2021.
The court heard previously in an agreed narrative how McLean and his girlfriend were in an ‘on/off’ relationship for four years and together ‘properly’ for two years between April 2019 and May 2021.
Cara, who studied at Northumbria University, described 5ft 10in McLean, of Glasgow, as ’emotionally abusive and controlling’.
The court was told she was on a Spanish holiday in the summer of 2019 when McLean saw a photograph of her on social media and ‘took exception’ to what she was wearing.
McLean messaged to say she looked like a ‘s***’ and told her to change, but his girlfriend refused to do so and went out.
He was said to have then started sending messages to her and her friends using derogatory language.
Cara described 5ft 10in McLean, of Glasgow, as ’emotionally abusive and controlling’ (pictured together)
Glasgow Warriors and Scotland rugby union player Rufus McLean, 22, used tracking systems to keep tabs on the phone of Cara Haston (pictured), 21, and demanded the passwords to her social media accounts.
Cara (pictured), was often told by McLean to put her ‘tracker’ on her phone on so he could verify where she was
McLean, who made his senior Scotland debut in October 2021 against Tonga, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (pictured) for sentencing, which was deferred for a month
Iain Smith, defending, asked Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss to consider giving McLean an ‘absolute discharge’ – meaning he would not have a criminal record (Pictured: Former girlfriend Cara)
In another incident in January 2021, the couple were in McLean’s Glasgow flat when she woke him up to talk.
McLean reacted by pushing her away, causing her lip to be burst and a black eye to appear, the court heard.
She was left ‘frightened’ by the incident and photographed her injuries to show her mother.
On March 11, 2020, the pair were in Edinburgh when McLean saw a photo on social media of his girlfriend along with a man with whom she had previously gone out on a date, at a time when she and McLean were not in a relationship.
An ‘irate’ McLean was said to have pushed her over and ‘continued to shout at her and she pleaded with him to stop’.
After getting up, the victim was said to have followed him and he ‘grabbed her wrist and pushed her back’.
McLean left and police were alerted to an ‘ongoing domestic incident’.
Officers attended and found the woman crying and suffering from redness to her arm.
He also called her a b**** and a s*** and sent her abusive text and social media messages
Glasgow Warriors and Scotland rugby union player Rufus McLean demanded passwords to her social media accounts and kept a ‘tracker’ service running on her phone so he knew where she was
McLean, who made his senior Scotland debut in October 2021 against Tonga, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing
Iain Smith, defending, asked Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss to consider giving McLean an ‘absolute discharge’ – meaning he would not have a criminal record.
Mr Smith said a Glasgow Warriors disciplinary hearing was due to take place today and the ‘consequences could be severe’.
Sheriff Auchincloss deferred sentencing until next month to allow a report to be prepared on McLean’s suitability for a project addressing the behaviour of male domestic abusers.
He said he would consider the imposition of a non-harassment order against McLean at the next hearing.