By SCOTT MacLEOD
A young Chiefs fan who tackled Brumbies captain George Gregan during a rugby clash in Rotorua will be banned from the ground, despite apologising to his victim.
The 15-year-old ran on to the International Stadium field during an injury break in the second half of Saturday night's Super
12 game.
He clutched Gregan's waist and tried to grab the ball, but was snared by Brumbies players before security guards threw him over a fence.
Chiefs and stadium managers yesterday said they were appalled by the boy and by the crowd, which cheered.
Waiting police bundled the boy into a patrol car.
Detective Sergeant Chris McLeod said the youngster wanted to become a police officer and was worried his actions would prevent that.
"We gave him a tease for a while, then said, 'You'll be fine, mate'," Mr McLeod said.
Two of the boy's friends pledged between $50 and $200 for him to grab the ball. Thirty minutes after being caught, he wrote what Mr McLeod called a "hard-case" apology to Gregan. It said: "I'm writing from inside the slammer [a cell]" and "I hope you're not upset emotionally and physically".
But it was no laughing matter for rugby officials and the 30 security staff guarding the playing area.
The general manager of the body responsible for the stadium, Nick Dallimore, said the boy had assaulted an international sportsman.
Mr Dallimore said further security breaches could lead to a European-type setup where grounds were ringed with security fences and scores of guards.
Chiefs chief executive Gary Dawson condemned the boy's behaviour and said the crowd had let itself down. Chiefs and stadium managers would meet to ensure it did not happen again.
Mr McLeod, however, said it would be impractical to ring-fence a rugby ground with police and guards. The boy has been referred to Youth Aid.
Gregan said it was the first time he had been tackled by a spectator.
"He got a good hit on me, mate."
Brumbies coach David Nucifora said the incident was a disgrace.
