Fight the good Fight!

Former head prefects, Wellington Rugby Academy members, top scholars, devout men of God and in 2018 two of the leading contenders to win the John E Kelly Memorial Cup (pictured above) - the Old Boys University and Marist St Pat’s Premier Colts contain some of the finest young men playing rugby in the capital.

Some are candidates for a long professional future in the game while others are almost certain to form the backbone of the MSP and OBU senior ranks for many years to come.

Regrettably last Saturday when the two teams clashed at Te Whaea these young men brought the game into disrepute, shaming their clubs and most significantly themselves.

Shortly before halftime the match was called off by referee Eno Liua’ana for fighting.

Suspending a fixture for fighting is an extraordinary and unusual sanction suggesting both sides had lost complete control.

Was the referee to abrupt to terminate proceedings?

Unlikely. Liua’ana is an experienced whistle man. He has officiated over 20 games of Premier rugby and played for Ories himself. Liua’ana is no stranger to tempers flaring and has the judgment to distinguish the difference between a bit of ‘push and shove’ and serious violence.  

Who started it?

Who inflicted the biggest blows?

Who cares!

The fact is typically fine young men lost the plot and must be held accountable for their actions.

This has happened to some extent.

On Wednesday night a hearing deemed the game is recorded as a no result and two competition points are removed.

Hopefully both clubs read the riot act as well. The game is dwindling in numbers and episodes like this is all we need.

Wild biffo has no place in the game and is seriously disappointing coming from two teams who usually represent the best things rugby has to offer.

A warning. If other players think it’s acceptable to stoop so low, bugger off. Club Rugby will call you out. By all means play hard, but play fair.

The Barbarians club mantra best captures the spirit of rugby when it says:  “Rugby is a game for gentlemen in all classes but for no bad sportsman in any class.”

Boys, please keep it that way.