Bay rugby's staunch stand on abuse

Chairman of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union judical committee John McKay, talking about supporter's behaviour on the sidelines at rugby games in July last year. Photo/file

Bay of Plenty Rugby has launched a new attack at abuse from the sidelines.

The organisation has created a website where people can report bad behaviour as well as read what is acceptable, and not.

Bay of Plenty Rugby stated it aimed to create a "Positive Rugby Environment" at all levels of the game, for all participants whether they be a player, coach, referee, administrator or spectator.

The initiative has come on the heels of the organisation's 2015-2017 Strategic Plan, which requires it to strengthen the community game by the retention and attraction of players, coaches and referees.

''... In order to do that we all must ensure that we provide a positive rugby environment for that growth to take place,'' Bay of Plenty Rugby stated.

''To do that we need to educate all of our stakeholders on what is and isn't acceptable behaviour whilst participating or observing our great game. We also need to provide a method for our stakeholders to notify us of behaviour that doesn't fit within the framework of, "Positive Rugby".''

The Poor Behaviour Form on the website provides an easy way for anyone to make the organisation aware of an incident that might make the region's rugby environment a negative place to be.