Men 'barking' behind the goalposts - U14 rugby team banned
A New Zealand high school rugby team has been disqualified following a series of violent incidents, including a player headbutting an opponent. The decision follows ongoing complaints regarding the team's behavior and intimidating conduct by spectators.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing concern over sportsmanship and safety in community-level youth sports, prompting calls for stricter disciplinary consequences.
A team of Tokoroa high schoolers have been disqualified from their rugby competition after a match that allegedly involved a headbutt and men "barking" behind the goal post. <b>By Jordan Smith of Local Democracy Reporting</b> After the Tokoroa under 14 team lost a home game on Saturday, the situation was said to be "within an inch" of turning into a full-on brawl and the atmosphere was intimidating enough for St Peter’s of Cambridge spectators to leave "as a pack". This follows a string of incidents and complaints against the team throughout the season, with referees and teams alike refusing to travel to Tokoroa due to abuse. On Saturday, a Tokoroa player ran over after the final whistle and headbutted one of the St Peter’s players, under 14 coach Simms Davison said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in