Should I pay for this?

giddy-aunt

My teenage DS was playing rugby with a few friends in the local park. This other lad,a friend, was tackled by my DS and the lads t shirt was ripped-I mean ripped ! This lad wants my son to pay full price for this top that he wore 3 times.He has texted him numerous times,foned him and got his mum to show me the t shirt.
I believe that this wasn't done maliciously,the lad shouldn't have played this rough game while wearing his £25 t shirt and is not having to take any responsibility for his actions in wearing it.
Im not sure what to do.
If this was my son who's t shirt that had been ripped,then I would have said to my son "tough"-he wore it knowing it was a rough and tumble game.This top isn't fixable.
Thank you in advance,any suggestions much appreciated.

Nicki

Personally I would. My oldest is 11 so not a teenager yet, but he has played plenty of rough and tumble games in his time, including rugby and never once either ripped someone else's clothes beyond repair or had his own clothes ripped by others. So I don't think it was as foreeeable as you might think that the top would get ruined if the wearer joined in the game. I also think it likely that your son was a bit heavy handed, and certainly sounds like he didn't immediately let go of the shirt when he heard that it was coming under strain or starting to rip, when if he had done so it might have been repairable.

My experience is that most people who can afford it easily, would not ask others to pay to replace items damaged by accident, so although the top was expensive and maybe more than you would pay for your children's clothes, I would guess the other child's family can't afford to replace it. It may have been a present or something the child saved up to buy.

If you also can't afford the £25, as opposed to just not seeing why you should pay it, then I would at least e explain that and offer a contribution towards it, but I would not do nothing, especially when I had been asked outright for the money, or argue the toss about it.

happy35

if they are friends and were messing about and there is no bullying involved etc then I wouldnt pay for it unless the other boy had told my son to let go.

The age of them means they do get rough with each other and expensive doesnt mean well made.

The other boys mother is probably annoyed that this has been ripped as I would be but is probably also annoyed at her son, if they were both playing it could have been your sons top that got ripped just as easily

At the most I would be offering to pay half

liney

Is his mom actually aware that the T-shirt was ripped playing Rugby? Does she understand it was a complete accident, and that he may even have grass stains and or cuts/bruises?

I might be inclined to offer him £10 towards a replacement, but i'd not be spending £25. If it was that important to him, then he shouldn't have been playing a contact sport in it.

USM

Unless my understanding of rugby as a sport has slipped recently, there is no move or part of play which involves hanging onto someone's shirt.

Nobody else in the game had items of clothing ripped, your kid ripped the other kid's shirt by not playing properly, you should pay.

nomoreheroes

If your sons friend is stupid enough to play rugby in an expensive shirt then it is his tough luck if it gets damaged. Hopefully he has learnt a valuable lesson that you should be responsible for your own actions. Dont part with a penny.

globetraveller

I would pay. I don't go with the idea that he shouldn't have been wearing it in the first place. It the shirt is ripped then your son was at fault. Can't think that I see many ripped shirts in rugby games.

Zoetoes

God, OTT or what? Yes it's annoying when the kids come home with something wrecked but it happens all the time!

Maybe the other lad was asking for the money for it for fear of his mother hitting the roof, if she's actually been round to show you it she's probably like that. I can't believe the mother is actually wanting the money for it!

Maybe she should either keep her son in or send him out naked!

No I would not pay, it's ridiculous!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Halves.............

Beast

I was amazed by some of the irresponsible, slopey shouldered responses to this thread then I remembered this is 'Wheres my benefits, What am I entitled to, I know my rights, I'm not paying that, Expert forums' frequented largely by tracksuit wearing bottom feeders who have been dragged up in life without an ounce of decency.

With this in mind, I thought I would confirm for you as a mature, sensible person with values that yes absolutely you should pay. Rugby is a rough game but played correctly clothing shouldn't be damaged.

GobbledyGook

I would perhaps offer half, but wouldn't pay for the whole thing.

A teenager should know better than to play a game like rugby in good/expensive clothes. It's all very well saying played properly rugby shouldn't rip a shirt, but even professionals occasionally end up with ripped shirts so a bit of common sense would say not to play it in your best clothes.