Rugby: Fists after final whistle

Vikus Nel was punched during the match by an as-yet-unnamed man. Photo / Janna Dixon

A young rugby player may lay a police complaint, after allegedly being punched when he approached to shake hands with his opponent after the final whistle.

A Kumeu under-19 player is being investigated by the North Harbour Rugby Union after an incident against Takapuna last Saturday. He is accused of punching one player during the game, then hitting another after it ended.

According to one member of the Takapuna team, the players were shaking hands when the Kumeu player punched Takapuna prop Jarred Beckett, knocking him to the ground and splitting his lip.

"I wasn't expecting it at all," said John Midgley, a Takapuna player who was injured and watching from the sideline. "He is a big boy and he got put to the ground."

He said the Kumeu player had already received a red card during the game for punching halfback Vikus Nel in the ruck.

"It's intolerable, it's the opposite end of sportsmanship - we are not there to play the game like that and if people are then they shouldn't be playing the game at all."

North Harbour Rugby Union operations manager Miles Marcroft confirmed a Kumeu player had been stood down but was tight-lipped on the details.

Three members on the disciplinary committee, chaired by an independent solicitor, have reviewed match incident reports submitted by the referee and both clubs, Marcroft said. The committee has asked for more information before setting a hearing date.

"This player is not playing rugby and cannot play until he appears at a hearing, and until we are notified of the date of the hearing, he will not take part in any rugby activity," Marcroft said.

"The player was told by his Kumeu team management, coaches and club the ramifications of what took place."

Despite the serious nature of the alleged incident, Marcroft said rugby officials had not called police because the union had its own disciplinary procedures.

But yesterday Beckett's family indicated he was considering laying a police complaint against the Kumeu player. Father John Beckett said Jarred was in "two minds" about filing a complaint, but he certainly believed the man should be banned.

"I think it was a cowardly and disgusting act," John Beckett said. "He should be kicked out of rugby union for life - there is no place in the game for thugs like that."

Takapuna under-21 manager Edward Hanlon said there had been tense exchanges between the two players throughout the game, calling each other "fat" and "pussy".

"One of our guys during the ruck called him a pussy," Hanlon said. "That guy who he called a pussy gave him a straight jab while shaking hands after the match."

The Kumeu player refused to talk to the Herald on Sunday.

Takapuna chairman Simon Cheesman said he saw the brawl but would not comment on the incident.

"I can confirm an incident at the under-19 game, we are gathering appropriate reports from all parties and these will be passed to appropriate people within the Harbour Rugby Football Union," Cheesman said.

Kumeu delegate Rob Wallace said he would not comment while it was being investigated but said violence was not tolerated at the club.

"Kumeu's stance on any ill discipline is zero tolerance," he said. "I can't say more than that until after the hearing."