RUGBY AUSTRALIA TO PROBE FAN-PLAYER FRACAS
RUGBY Australia will today consider laying charges against fans involved in a push-and-shove with a Wallabies player on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The national body today will review CCTV vision of the incident and a report from Cbus Super Stadium security about the incident where grieving Wallabies lock Lukhan Tui ended up scuffling with members of the crowd soon after the final whistle.
Shortly after the game ended television cameras showed footage of a fan yelling at Tui and a number of other Wallabies players who were still on the ground.
Tui’s younger sister was allegedly “collected” during the melee which a Rugby Australia spokesman said had prompted Tui’s reaction.
The spokesman for Rugby Australia said officials had identified the two spectators.
“Both spectators were detained by the stadium security after the altercation and were not charged or arrested by police,” the spokesman said.
“We are investigating the incident to decide if any further action is necessary. But Rugby Australia has their details on file.”
A Queensland Police spokesman said police were involved in the eviction of the two spectators.
“We are not involved with the matter and made no arrests at all that night,” the spokesman said.
“Besides the spectator altercation, the overall behaviour was fine.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said the confrontation was “unfortunate”.
“I don’t know about the fan and what he said, I just don’t like to see that in the game – it is unfortunate.”
Cheika said Tui had been under pressure after his stepdad’s death on Wednesday: “He has had a pretty big week in his life, and this happens.”
Former Queensland Reds player Jeremy Austin, who attended the match, said behaviour like that could ruin an event.
“When you’re with your family and see you see that sort of behaviour it just ruins it,” he said.
“But the bloke who started the fight should be getting a life sentence ban from every stadium in Australia.”