An out-and-out brawl in a schoolboy rugby game is an ugly thing indeed.
Society shudders for this is the polar opposite of what we hope young people will derive from sport.
We all shake our head, knowing there is no shortage of aggression on the adult sporting fields and in society in general and fearing this must surely be fuelling the behaviour of the schoolboys.
We are told that the behaviour of those on the sidelines - and the people on the sidelines are usually over-hyped adults - plays a significant role in the violence that erupts.
It is not uncommon to read reports of reserve team members and even their adult supporters running on the field from the sidelines to remonstrate with or even throw a punch at a match official and on occasions join an all-in melee.
The most infamous recent example of schoolboy violence on the rugby field was the nasty punch-up between players from Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys' High School first XVs in August last year.
Nine players were disciplined after that brawl although it took some time for at least one of the schools to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.
So well done to Dannevirke High School Board of Trustees chairman Stuart Brown who got on the front foot immediately and labelled the weekend scrap between his school's First XV and Upper Hutt College players "appalling".
That's what it was and Mr Brown called it correctly. The referee was threatened and had to be accompanied off the field for safety.
Dannevirke High has stood one player down and is meeting to further investigate the incident.
Upper Hutt College, on the other hand, has been a bit slower in reacting to the trouble in Dannevirke.
When approached yesterday by Hawke's Bay Today there was no word from Upper Hutt College condemning the situation despite reports that its reserves ran 35 metres to join the fight which erupted after Dannevirke scored a last-minute match-clinching try.
Today, Upper Hutt College is talking more openly about disciplining those involved.
Both schools and the competition administrators need to show they take the situation seriously and let the public know what they are doing about it.
The days when any sporting code - whether at adult or junior level - can sweep violence under the carpet have long gone.
Editorial: School rugby brawl needs swift action
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