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Schools to address sideline rugby violence

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Jun 2015, 6:36AM
File photo
File photo

Schools to address sideline rugby violence

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Jun 2015, 6:36AM

Updated 5.58pm: A meeting will be held this week between Tangaroa and Otahuhu Colleges over the all-in brawl at an under-15 rugby game at the weekend.

MORE: Injured teen improving after match brawl

It is being brokered by the chairman of the Auckland Secondary Schools Rugby Union Jim Lonergan.

The union will also hold a meeting of its executive within the next few days, and said it will be reaching out to the principals of all schools to make sure the zero-tolerance for poor on-field and side-line behaviour gets through.

However, Secondary Schools Principal Association's Peter Gall said regulating rugby further won't solve school game violence.

The Rugby Union is considering supporting referees with another official to keep an eye on crowds.

Mr Gall said teams play with or without the right people.

"Especially if you've got people who have travelled some way across Auckland on a Saturday morning, you know, most of the lads, all they want to do is have their game of rugby."

Since Saturday's match was abandoned, there was an automatic triggering process that sparks a Judicial Committee into action.

The police are also involved.

But an organisation which facilitates more than 300 rugby games a week says the game doesn't attract violence.

College Sport New Zealand acting CEO Collette Amai said the brawl that broke out at a rugby school match in Otahuhu at the weekend was an isolated event.

She agrees the rules may need to be re-enforced but isn't convinced new regulations need to implemented.

"I don't know if we really need to do a revamp around changing the rules and regs, for just one incident that has happened."

"I don't think it's actually really pertaining to rugby at all."

 

 

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