Irish rugby players cleared in rape trial have been sacked

Irish fly-half Paddy Jackson and Ulster team-mate Stuart Olding have been sacked by their province and their contracts with the Irish Rugby Football Union terminated despite being cleared in a rape trial, the IRFU announced on Saturday.

Both Jackson and Olding were acquitted of rape at a trial last month but an internal review by both Ulster and the IRFU decided the pair should be sacked.

“Following a review, conducted in the aftermath of recent court proceedings, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby have revoked the contracts of Patrick Jackson and Stuart Olding with immediate effect,” a short statement said.