Tigers have handed a “substantial fine” to Joe Westerman following an online video alley allegedly showing him involved in a sex act.
Joe Westerman : Video alley | Footage | Twitter video
Westerman was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England.
He previously played for the Castleford Tigers (Heritage № 869), Hull F.C. in two separate spells and the Warrington Wolves in the Super League, and the Toronto Wolfpack in the Betfred Championship. He played as a stand-off at the start of his professional career.
Westerman burst onto the scene in 2007 in the Castleford Tigers National League One campaign after signing from junior club the Featherstone Lions.
Joe played in most of the Castleford Tiger’s games and scored 2 tries in the National League One Grand Final at Headingley. He was named National League One young player of the year.
Joe Westerman video alley
Westerman has been hit with a “substantial fine” by Castleford Tigers and ordered to carry out group service after a video surfaced allegedly displaying his involvement in a intercourse act in public.
The graphic footage seemingly involving the previous Hull, Warrington and Wakefield free ahead seems to be to have been filmed by a passer-by and circulated broadly on social media over the weekend.
https://youtu.be/O9nC0oWe1f4
Castleford introduced on Monday morning they have been investigating the matter internally and hours later confirmed the punishment for an “incredibly remorseful” Westerman, who has issued a public apology.
The group service will centre on the 33-year-old Westerman educating “young people on the effects of alcohol” in addition to the “dangers of social media when in the public eye”.
Westerman mentioned in a press release: “Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly apologise to my family and friends for my actions.
“I’d also like to apologise to the supporters, sponsors, staff, and directors of Castleford Tigers as well as my team-mates.
“I’d like to extend this apology to the game of rugby league, and I have realised that I need to work on my decision-making around alcohol.”
A Castleford assertion added: “The club and its welfare officers, in conjunction with Rugby League Cares, will continue to support Joe and his family throughout this difficult time and will make no further comment.”
Footage
Castleford Tigers loose forward Joe Westerman, 33, was caught performing a sex act on the woman.
The player, who has won two England caps during a 13-year career in the top flight, has his tackle exposed in the footage, in which a passer-by is heard asking: “Can I have a go?”
Last night, after the graphic seven-second clip went viral, Castleford fined Westerman and ordered him to carry out community service to educate young people on the effects of alcohol.
Meanwhile, his wife, Lauren, 33, has booted him out of the family home in the West Yorkshire town.
She wrote on Twitter: “Can I make this VERY clear that this is NOT me!!!!!! We have three children, one of whom is almost 15, and she doesn’t need to see things like this all over social media!”
Distraught mum-of-three Lauren told The Sun she had been sent the video before it was posted online.
She said: “I’m thinking about our children at the moment.
“To be honest none of this has sunk in yet. I’m trying to process what has happened.”
The footage was shot at the weekend, days before the start of the Super League season.
Joe Westerman Twitter video
Rugby star Joe Westerman is today embroiled in a sex scandal after a graphic Twitter video went viral which appeared to show the under-fire player performing an act on a woman in a public alleyway.
https://youtu.be/sN33cl1uSfo
The married father-of-three player is said to be the man in the clip which has sparked a probe by his club, Castleford Tigers.
His wife Lauren today insisted: ‘Can I make this VERY clear that this is NOT me!!!!!! We have three children one of whom is almost 15 and she doesn’t need to see things like this all over social media!’
The club said that it has launched an investigation into the video and was making no further statement.
The interest in the shocking clip has even been noted as far away as Australia, The Sun reports.
A statement from the club read: ‘Castleford Tigers are aware of a video involving a player that circulated on social media.
‘This issue is currently being dealt with internally and the club will make no further comment at this time.’
The furore has broken out shortly before the 2023 Super League, which starts on Thursday.