Kelston Boys to appeal rugby ban

Kelston Boys' High principal Steve Watt said the severity of the suspensions has caused widespread disbelief among the local community. Photo / Dean Purcell

The five Kelston Boys High schoolboys who were banned from rugby for between 10 and 16 months for fighting will appeal the decision.

Four Auckland Grammar students received six-week bans, meaning that they missed the weekend's secondary schools final against Mt Albert Grammar at Eden Park.

The difference in suspension periods have been criticised by members of the West Auckland community as well as former All Blacks Va'aiga "Inga" Tuigamala and Michael Jones.

The brawl erupted during the semi-final last Saturday between Grammar and Kelston Boys' High School in which up to 100 players and supporters clashed.

Kelston Boys' High principal Steve Watt said his school had "no issue" with the condemnation of the fight but the difference between the penalties has caused "widespread disquiet and disbelief as to their propriety from not only the local community but also the wider rugby community."

"Accordingly, the five boys from Kelston have lodged appeals with the Rugby Union today on the grounds that the penalties imposed on them are manifestly excessive and that the disparity in the length of the suspensions meted out to them by the Disciplinary Committee amount to a miscarriage of justice," Mr Watt said.

He said the five boys have been suspended from school and have received counselling and financial help to lodge the appeal at a cost of $1500 plus GST to the school.

"I am hopeful that the appeal process can be resolved quickly so the school can focus on its primary function of educating boys to become good young men. As I have said before we can all learn from this inexcusable incident and with the goodwill of all involved, make sure that it doesn't happen again," Mr Watt said.

- NZ HERALD STAFF