Auckland schools' rugby brawl hearing adjourned

The principals of Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys High have given different accounts of who struck the first blow. Photo / Murray Job, Sky Sport

Two Auckland high schools will have to wait until tomorrow to discover if Auckland Rugby Union will hand out any penalties following an ugly on-field brawl on Saturday.

Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys High representatives appeared before the union's disciplinary committee tonight to present their versions of what happened in the brawl at the end of their Auckland secondary schools rugby semifinal.

A ruling had been expected tonight, but the committee has put the decision off until tomorrow.

"We have agreed on all preliminary issues relating to the hearing and who is required to appear," committee chairwoman Sarah Jane Neville said.

"On that basis the matter is going to proceed tomorrow for a determination at Eden Park at 5pm."

Possible sanctions include suspensions of individual players, or an entire team.

Any suspensions would particularly hit Auckland Grammar, with its team due to contest the secondary schools final at the weekend following their 20-9 victory in Saturday's match.

Seven rugby players from Auckland's Kelston Boys High School have been suspended after an on-field brawl with Auckland Grammar School.

Five 1st XV players and two 2nd XV players, who were watching the game and joined the fight, were suspended from school, Kelston principal Steve Watt said in a statement on the school's website.

Auckland Grammar, which won the match 20-9, has not yet said how many students it was suspending.

In a letter to parents, Mr Watt said an Auckland Grammar player started the fight in the final minutes of the semifinal match on Saturday, when he punched a Kelston player.

Players and up to 100 spectators were caught up in the fight, which lasted five minutes and led to at least one schoolboy being knocked out, according to a witness.

Mr Watt said in an announcement he had reviewed video evidence of the incident and interviewed players involved.

"I am suspending five members of the 1st XV for their involvement in the incident. I am also suspending two members of the 2nd XV who, being spectators at the match, became involved.

"These students will be required to appear before the disciplinary committee of the board of trustees," he said.

"A full school assembly was held on Monday, August 17, at which I expressed my disgust at the school's involvement. I outlined strategies sportsmen can use to avoid such conflict. I also warned the school again of the consequences of becoming involved in such behaviour."

The suspensions come ahead of an Auckland Rugby Union judicial hearing tonight.

- NZPA