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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Rugby World Cup 2011: French crow without fowl

ROGER MORONEY
Hawkes Bay Today·
18 Sep, 2011 10:36 PM2 mins to read

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A stray rooster, some dope, a few too many drinks and a spot of exposure ... but not of the photographic variety.



Just another night at the rugger.



The rain which fell across McLean Park to accompany the opening whistle of last night's
Rugby World Cup clash between France and Canada failed to dampen the spirits of the visiting fans - although more than a dozen of them were probably today wishing it had.

Fourteen people, all described by police as "international tourists" were given the red card and sent from the ground which meant they failed to see the spirited last 15 minutes where the French side put the accelerator down to win 46-19.

Also given the red card was a rooster which a French fan tried to smuggle into the ground under his coat.

But security staff on the gate spotted the ticketless spectator and parted him from his companion - who was allowed in to see the match after a warning.

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The rooster is a national symbol for France and releasing one onto the ground during the game has become a fan ritual.

Police called the SPCA and an officer arrived and took the cockerel away for safekeeping.

"He was unharmed," a spokesman said.

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While there was just one arrest, police and security crews at the ground were given little option but to round up and send packing the other 13.

A Frenchman was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour while another was put out the gate after what was described as an incident of indecent exposure - he was understood to have been carrying out his toileting publicly.

Three Canadian fans were caught smoking cannabis and they too received their marching orders along with a strong warning.

Two Australians in the Bay for the game were also sent out after being found with alcohol they had smuggled in.

But at the end of the evening, given the large 15,000 crowd, police were pleased with things.

"Overall, those attending the match were well-behaved," Operations Commander Inspector Mike O'Leary said.

There were no major crowd problems for the 25 officers on duty to deal with.

St John Ambulance officers treated three people at the park for minor injuries as the result of falls.

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