1 Sep 2016

School rugby brawl investigated

12:40 pm on 1 September 2016

An investigation has begun into a brawl at a school rugby match in Feilding, which left a young spectator with a broken leg.

rugby ball

Photo: 123RF

Feilding High School were playing Waiopehu College on Saturday.

The trouble broke out when spectators objected to a tackle, and invaded the field.

A boy's leg was broken in the ensuing fight, which involved players as well as parents.

The match was abandoned.

Manawatu rugby chief executive John Knowles said there was nothing around the pitch to separate the players from the crowd.

"There should have been a wire along the field that keeps the crowd back from the edge of the field. That'd be one of the learnings from it," he said.

"There's no compulsion to put it there we just think it's wise to do that and we do advise our various spotties to put a rope along there to keep people back a bit."

Mr Knowles said complaints had been laid against both teams and the police were investigating.

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