Nigel Owens column: Alfie's story exposed the dark and the kind side of social media and rugby

One of the issues grabbing attention this week is how the rugby community has rallied around Alfie Pugsley, the 11-year-old told he was 'too big' to play under-12s for Oakdale RFC.

In other words, according to Alfie's accuser on Facebook, he was overweight.

The story brings out the bad and the good side of social media.

To call somebody out like this, particularly someone so young, is unfair and simply not a nice thing to do. It displays the darker side of social media, how there are some pretty nasty people out there - mostly keyboard warriors.

Then we see the good side, which in this particular case thankfully far, far outweighs the bad, with the way rugby people have rallied around Alfie.

He's had some wonderful messages of support, not only from the public at large but also from well known figures like Louis Rees-Zammit, Joe Marler, Andy Powell, Jonathan Davies - and even the New Zealand team.

I also sent a message, saying I would gladly go up to referee a game for Oakdale and speak to Alfie myself in person. I plan to do that very soon.

I trust and hope young Alfie takes on board this overwhelming support from the vast majority, rather than focus on the initial horrible comment.

Which, let me emphasise, was a flawed argument in the first place, anyway.

Why? Because rugby always has and always will be a game for everybody. It is what makes our sport so special and unique. Whether you're small, big, thin, tall, fast, slow, whatever, there is a position in the team you can fill.

And every single one of those positions matter just as much as any other.

Yes fly-half is the glamour role, yes the wingers tend to score the tries, yes the back-rowers seem to be involved non-stop by covering every part of the pitch.

But none