Editorial: We can't let gang intimidate

The Head Hunters have a strong presence in Wellsford

The Head Hunters problem facing the Northland Rugby Union isn't easy.

Several rugby clubs are threatening to break away from the NRU's Southern Districts division two competition because the Whangaruru team has links to the Head Hunter gang.

The Head Hunters have a strong presence in the competition's catchment. And around nearby Wellsford.

Five clubs perceive that the gang is throwing its weight around on the field, and off.

The "on field" problem is the easiest to solve, in theory anyway. On the field, it's the ref's domain - dirty play is dirty play, regardless of whether you are in a gang. The off-field stuff and sense of intimidation is more challenging.

A person can be intimidated and nothing has actually happened, other than a sideways glance or perception that someone was giving them "the evils". This is the stuff that gangs thrive on. Bullying is subtle and doesn't always come with "offences" that can be sanctioned.

The NRU could (and should) ban gang patches from rugby sidelines and require clubs to ban patches from clubhouses. It needs to happen to denounce the gang and its presence.

The Head Hunters have a strong presence in the town of Wellsford, because they have gone unchallenged. They need to be challenged on this one by the NRU and the clubs. Otherwise the gang's behaviour is normalised, and it will keep taking steps further and further into our communities.

The buck, or in this case, the ruck, has to stop somewhere. The NRU strives to create better communities through better rugby experiences. Clearly, five teams are not having good rugby experiences. Those clubs, though, need to stay in the NRU competition, otherwise the Head Hunters win, don't they? Which is worse - running away from the problem or standing up to it? The clubs also need to recognise the problem is not just a sporting issue - it's a social problem. Expecting the NRU, expecting anyone, to solve social issues quickly is a big ask.

The clubs and the NRU need to stick together - it is a shared challenge they can solve together, and they shouldn't be afraid to ask for help and advice from police and other social agencies who may have expertise to contribute. The solution lies in solidarity, not in ripping the competition apart.