Monday 8 December 2014

Jamie Bloem Later Years

Jamie Bolem was the first rugby player to test positive for Dianabol (Methandrostenolone or Nandrolone) in 1994.

The controversial South African international resurrected his career with Widnes and Huddersfield after serving the doping ban. After his doping ban ended, Jamie took up an offer from first-division Widnes rather than returning to play with Doncaster. Later on, Jamie Bloem received an opportunity to play from Halifax.

Jamie Bloem Later Years

Bloem moved to Old Rishworthians as player/coach for the 2007-08 season and was the top point scorer in 2007-08 for Rishworthians. Jamie Bloem broke the club record with 375 points in the season.

Bloem became a rugby league referee after his retirement. He controlled the Nordic Cup match between Sweden and Norway and also worked in the capacity of a BBC radio rugby league sports summarizer.

In 2012, the roller-coaster story of Jamie Bloem reached the lowest bottom. He was accused of having sex with a minor, which later turned out to be a charge without basis. On July 4, 2012, Bloem found two detectives and two more uniformed officers at the gate for his arrest. This arrest was made after a notification from Facebook that stemmed from a social event at Stainland Amateur Rugby League Club. Bloem was the player-coach at the club, which had been promoted from division 4 of the Pennine League.

The club decided to hold a celebration party that was attended by about 4 girls and 15 men but Jamie was at a Halifax restaurant with Louise, his wife. The party's revealing photographs were posted on Facebook and Jamie was tagged into the photographs after which Facebook reported the issue. Jamie Bloem was locked, interviewed, and then released on without charge on bail while investigations continued. The rugby star cooperated with the police and the allegations of sex with a minor against him and the lesser charge of contact with a minor substituted.

Jamie Bloem Later Years

But this was not end of the story. Bloem's real nightmare started when the tabloid press got hold of the story. The "sex with the minor" story was reported in the press worldwide and Jamie started receiving hate mails, including serious threats. Reporters started knocking doors of Jamie's neighbors asking how they felt about living next to the rugby player. This was the time when Jamie's family left on a pre-arranged visit to the mother's home (Jamie's mother) in Middlesbrough. The Jamie Bloem family stayed there for many weeks until they considered it safe to return home. In October, Jamie was cleared to his and family's relief.

A few years back, Jamie Bloem spoke against decision of the Braford Bulls to sack hooker Ryan Hudson following his failed drugs test. Hudson was banned for two years after he failed a doping test for Winstrol (Stanozolol). Bloem remarked the first few weeks are going to be the worst for Ryan and my advice would be for him to keep a low profile, maybe go on holiday to take stock and set himself goals for the next two years and beyond. He further remarked Hudson should not be demonized for one foolish transgression like he was a decade ago.


Jamie has been announced as the player coach at Halifax Vandals RUFC for the 2013-14 season. He also runs a landscape gardening business in Halifax when he is not coaching Pennine League amateur club Stainland Stags or refereeing.

No comments:

Post a Comment