Schools rugby game marred by violence

A match between two under-16 school rugby teams which went ‘‘seriously wrong’’ has been referred to the Canterbury Rugby judicial review.

Punches were thrown when the St Bede’s College and Shirley Boys’ High School teams faced off last Wednesday afternoon.

A St Bede’s supporter, who did not want to be named, said a fight broke out because the game, which was delayed, ended early due to a lack of light.

He said when the referee ended the match it ‘‘erupted into a little bit of chaos’’.

He claimed some of the Shirley players ‘‘really wanted to get at it’’.

The referee was blowing his whistle and trying to break up the fight when a Shirley supporter came over and slapped him across the face, the spectator claimed.

Canterbury Rugby chief executive Nathan Godfrey said the complaints review officer had received the referee’s match report and decided to refer the case to a judicial hearing, scheduled for next week.

Shirley Boys’ High School headmaster John Laurenson said he believed things went ‘‘seriously wrong’’ at the match.

He understood ‘‘punches had been thrown’’ and the school had launched an internal review.

‘‘We’ve got that under investigation and will take appropriate action.‘‘

Laurenson said it was ‘‘not a question of brushing it under the carpet’’. ’’If players are punching each other, it’s not within what we would stand for.

‘‘If some of our boys have got it wrong, they will be held culpable. There’s no question.’’ He said senior staff were investigating.

Laurenson said he understood the game had started late because the referee was delayed. It was later called off as darkness fell.

St Bede’s College rector Justin Boyle declined to comment.