Fan behaviour in spotlight after first Eden Park test
Fans behaving badly have ruined the experience of live rugby, say people who don’t like the bad language and booze that often follows the sport.
A lifelong rugby fan this week told of the abuse she and her English husband received at Eden Park on Saturday. The story prompted about 50 emails from rugby supporters, the majority of whom had had similar experiences.
Dominic Hitchen said he took his young daughters to their first All Blacks test, against South Africa, at Eden Park in September last year.
Mr Hitchen and his “really excited” 5- and 8-year-olds were seated in front of an unruly bunch who were swearing and drinking.
When Mr Hitchen asked them to tone it down, they turned their swearing on the family.
‘‘They replied with ‘ who brings their kids to the ****ing rugby?’
“One of them actually offered my 5-year-old alcohol.”
Mr Hitchen said he left with his daughters shortly after half time.
His daughters haven’t been keen to go back to any live rugby, he said.
“They were really scared,” he said. “It’s ruining it for the next generation of fans.”
One man said a group of intoxicated All Blacks supporters swearing at English players ruined his night on Saturday.
“The unpleasantness began at the start of the game with one of the individuals shouting and swearing at the English players and using both the ‘F’ and ‘ C’ words,” he said.
The man, who didn’t want to be named, said he had attended many tests at Eden Park, but this particular experience was “frustrating but isolated”.
“I go to Eden Park a lot, and I go to a lot of games, and this is the only time I’ve felt like this.
“Normally security are too overzealous. But I couldn’t see any stewards or find anyone to talk to,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have accepted it if I had my family there, or if I had my wife there.”
The man said it was a case of two or three troublemakers surrounded by friends condoning their behaviour. A spokeswoman for Eden Park Trust said the safety of patrons was important.
“We are mindful during the game to manage crowd behaviour to ensure everyone has a good time,’’ she said.
People can seek assistance from security, community volunteers, a text number, and police if they need to, she said. “We would always encourage patrons to speak out if they feel uncomfortable.”
New Zealand Rugby’s Nigel Cass is responsible for the delivery of test matches and described the atmosphere at Eden Park on Saturday as “fantastic”.
He said the more than 47,000 fans in the stands were generally well-behaved.
“What’s disappointing is the behaviour of a few fans.”
Mr Cass said New Zealand Rugby’s Applaud campaign was making a difference to sideline behaviour.
“We will remain vigilant and continue to work with all stadia operators to create the best possible atmosphere for all fans to enjoy a test experience.”
HVisit tinyurl.com/ rugbyabuse to read our earlier story on
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