FIGHTING IN THE RUGBY STANDS
FOOTAGE CAPTURES PUNCHES THROWN IN THE CROWD AT WALES V AUSTRALIA MATCH AS TEMPERS FLARED OVER CHALLENGE ON LEIGH HALFPENNY
A RUGBY fan was punched in the back of the head as a fight broke out in the stands during Wales’ win against Australia on Saturday.
A video has emerged showing an Australian female fan being punched in the back of the head and punches being thrown in the stands after tension mounted when Australian centre Samu Kerevi collided with Leigh Halfpenny.
Other Welsh fans tried to calm the rowing fans down and police said a number of Welsh fans were kicked out of the stadium.
Fans were angry no sanction had been awarded to the Australian after the referee called it a “rugby incident” and turned away.
The video shows a group of Welsh fans targeting a couple, who were wearing Australia scarves, after the decision.
The footage shows a woman approaching the two Australian fans before throwing a punch at the female fan.
A scuffle breaks out and the man is then assaulted by a fan, who stumbles on the floor.
The man targeted by the angry fans actually grew up in Wales, but was at the game with his Australian girlfriend.
He said: “I was with 14 of my friends who also had girlfriends and we were enjoying the game. A group starting shouting at my girlfriend calling her a ‘cheating Aussie,’ even though she never had anything to do with the referee’s decision.
“After some Welsh fans in our row asked them to calm down, a brawl erupted between the two groups of Welsh fans. You can see in the video my girlfriend being pointed out and punched in the back of the head.
“Stewards had also come down but unfortunately they weren’t able to stop anything.”
The 25-year-old said he fell in love with Welsh rugby after going to university in Cardiff and has regularly gone to rugby games for the past seven years.
“The stewards eventually escorted the abusive pair out towards the turnstiles. We carried on watching the game but when we were leaving, they were waiting for us and carried on shouting and pointing at us,” he said.
“My friends had been escorted out to Castle Street so after the game we just left. I grew up in Wales and attended many games and have never seen anything like this.
“My girlfriend and I are moving to Australia soon and she was really shaken up. She’s doubting whether she ever wants to return after what happened.
“In all my years living in Cardiff, I have never seen anything like this at a rugby game.”
It comes after alcohol-free zones were tested at the Principality Stadium during this year’s autumn internationals.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said they were aware of the incident, but by the time they had got there it had been dealt with by stewards who had ejected a number of fans from the stadium.
A spokesman for the Principality Stadium said: “Unfortunately, there is always a very small minority who engage in unsociable behaviour during heavily attended events.
“Our stewards are trained to deal quickly and efficiently with these situations and the footage supplied appears to show a good example of this.
“We take incidents of this nature extremely seriously and advise any supporters who witness or experience unsociable behaviour of any kind at Principality Stadium, at any time, to notify the nearest steward who will respond appropriately.”