Chooks' introduce new E-bike rules after clumsy crash

The Sydney Roosters have introduced a strict set of new safety rules for players using e-bikes and scooters after centre Billy Smith suffered concussion in a fall last week.

Smith was ruled out of the club’s historic clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night after an incident on an e-bike while giving teammate Egan Butcher a lift through the Moore Park precinct near the club’s high-performance centre.

Roosters players frequently use e-bikes and scooters to travel between the club’s headquarters at Allianz Stadium on Moore Park Road, their nearby training ground at Kippax Lake Field and the players’ car park in the Entertainment Quarter.

Following Smith’s accident, the club has moved quickly to tighten the rules around how the vehicles can be used.

Players must wear helmets while riding e-bikes or scooters, are banned from doubling teammates and will face fines if they exceed a designated speed limit. The club has also introduced a shuttle bus running along Driver Avenue to transport players between the Entertainment Quarter car park and the Roosters’ centre of excellence.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis said the new measures were designed to ensure the incident was not repeated.

“We have brought in new rules,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “Players must wear helmets, they get fined for going too fast and they can’t have two blokes on an e-bike.

“They have to wear a helmet, otherwise they will get fined. I went to training (on Sunday) and they were all sticking to the rules.

“We also have a bus service they can use.

“We were disappointed but it was a lesson well learned by everybody. I’m sure it will be OK going into the future. They are all pretty responsible people.”

Smith will miss Friday night’s clash with the Penrith Panthers under the NRL’s concussion protocols, although there has been speculation the club could explore the possibility of seeking medical clearance for an earlier return.

Butcher escaped injury in the incident and was able to take his place against South Sydney.

Coach Trent Robinson addressed the situation after the win over the Rabbitohs, saying Smith was embarrassed by the mishap.

“He fell off a bike and he’s feeling embarrassed, and he’s feeling OK today, I guess,” Robinson said.

“There will be discussions around that but you don’t want to control all parts of life, either.

“The footy team and people can be individuals but a little bit better care might help get him on the field.”

Roosters captain James Tedesco said using scooters and bikes around Moore Park had become standard practice for players dealing with limited parking in the area.

“Ever since we’ve been there, we’ve been sort of scootering and biking to and from training with parking and stuff, so it was just an accident,” Tedesco said.

Hero image - Source: Sydney Roosters