Rugby League teen given 20-year ban after brawl

Eurosport - Wed, 23 Sep 10:55:00 2009

An Australian 16-year-old has been banned from playing rugby league for 20 years after a mass brawl in a junior final at the weekend.

RUGBY Rugby League ball generic - 0

Two of the boy's team mates were also handed long suspensions, while another 10 players have been ordered to face a judiciary probe following Saturday's punch-up.

Australian police are considering bringing charges against parents who allegedly cheered on their teenage sons during the fight.

One player suffered a broken nose and a fractured eye socket and several others were left with cuts and bruises.

"I am totally disgusted by the behaviour that I saw in that footage," New South Wales state assistant commissioner of police Denis Clifford said.

"I think the footage of the parents cheering from the sideline and high-fiving the players involved in the brawl - it's the thing that disgusted me the most."

While fights are not uncommon in rugby league, and players and parents have been given lifetime bans, the melee between Blacktown City and Lower Mountains could not have come at a worse time for a sport that has been plagued by off-field drama this season.

"What we saw was beyond unacceptable and I'm very comfortable that the sentences handed out are appropriate," National Rugby League boss David Gallop said.

"I think the game has taken big steps in relation to the way we see our game on the field and we will continue to do that."

He added: "Everyone was shocked to see such graphic violence on the field, particularly from very young kids and they need to understand that's totally unacceptable."

The amateur footage, which was broadcast on Australian television, showed several Blacktown players attacking their opponents. The Blacktown coach was sacked.

The Lower Mountains players were commended for not retaliating and given complimentary tickets to Friday night's NRL playoff between Canterbury and Parramatta.

Reuters

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  1. It is an unfortunate time for Rugby with both­ disciplines going through a hard time image wise, it is­ not fair to compare Rugby to Soccer as they are very­ different sports, I do agree that 20 years is to long­ maybe 5 years but I was not at the event and do not­ know the extent of the players involvement.

    I do not­ agree that the police should be called or arrest­ players on the pitch if there is an altercation, as a­ player I know that with such a physical game as rugby­ you do sometimes loose your cool and may stike another­ player, I have done it and had it done to me but I have­ always had a pint with the other party in the bar­ afterwards. I do not condone such behaviour and as I­ coach I actively discourage it, I teach players to know­ and understand the laws of the game and respect the­ officals and the laws.

    From Sam P, on Thu 24 Sep 10:19AM

  2. a_dapre - yes specsavers would be your best option -­ the shirt is Bradford Bulls who lask time I looked were­ a rugby leasgue team.

    From Mark, on Thu 24 Sep 8:30AM

  3. Iverkenny, educate yourself you moron!!
    Rugby is a­ very technical sport that teaches a lot of young men­ and women about respect and self control!!
    Most­ televised football matches include some over paid, over­ hyped prima donna effing and blinding at referees,­ other players and fans, and whilst you have the likes­ of Joey Barton, Lee Bowyer, Kieron Dyer and the like­ setting bad examples, lets not start tarnishing­ rugby's reputation!! Most rugby matches are played­ fairly and within the rules, if a rugby player is found­ to be outside these rules he is punished and accepts­ the referees decision whilst al the time referring to­ him as sir!! Unlike a football player who will think­ nothing of jostling the official whilst subjecting him­ to a tirade of abuse!!

    From Kev, on Wed 23 Sep 7:19PM

  4. To a_dapre... who says that is a not a rugby league­ ball? It looks to me as though it has an "engage­ super league" logo and a "super league"­ logo on it. Should have gone to specsavers, I think!

    From Martyn S, on Wed 23 Sep 11:29AM

  5. it is about time a sport got tough. wether football­ rugby or whatever they think assault is handbags when­ inside white lines. they are generally cowards who­ wouldnt dream of anything in the street. the­ authorities especially the police should act every time­ even if that means arresting players ON THE PITCH.­ thuggery is cowardice not skill and is not needed.­ bellamy, adebyor, keane, gerrard etc all should be­ ambassadors not petulant bad tempered hairdos. kids­ will follow wether that is thuggery or diving or­ cheating. if they will do anything to win then the­ punishment for getting caught must be for ever as in­ athletics.

    From Peter, on Wed 23 Sep 10:43AM

  6. WELL, I THINK IS TOO HARSH TO BAN A 16-YEAR-OLD FOR 20­ YEARS, BECAUSE AT THAT AGE THEY ARE YOUNG AND REBEL. I­ WOULD BAN HIM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON OR SO AND­ WARN HIM OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF A POSSIBLE RECURRENCE

    From Vítor, on Wed 23 Sep 10:33AM

  7. nice picture of a rugby UNION player holding a rugby­ UNION ball.

    From a_dapre, on Wed 23 Sep 10:21AM

  8. it is assumed that 'inverkenny' is a football­ fan and , as we all know, their players, and fans, act­ impeccabley, both on and off the pitch. Why is it­ Yahoo,Eurosport CANNOT have a seperate page covering­ Rugby League, and not add it onto the inferior version­ of the sport. I agree with Dave H.

    From Ian, on Wed 23 Sep 10:07AM

  9. it is assumed that 'inverkenny' is a football­ fan and , as we all know, their players, and fans, act­ impeccabley, both on and off the pitch. Why is it­ Yahoo,Eurosport CANNOT have a seperate page covering­ Rugby League, and not add it onto the inferior version­ of the sport. I agree with Dave H.

    From Ian, on Wed 23 Sep 10:07AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    rugby is for hooligans, we always knew that, i think­ it's a good game because it keeps the thugs away­ from proper sport.

    From inverkenny, on Wed 23 Sep 9:11AM

  11. It is only when you cover Rugby League in its entirity­ can you publish an article like this.
    Yahoo, Eurosport­ what ever this junk is decides to only cover the school­ tie version of the game so sodd off.

    From Dave H, on Wed 23 Sep 8:58AM
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