Ref blamed as fists fly at rugby

A MASS brawl broke out during a clash between the EP Kings Vodacom Cup team and reigning Community Cup champions Despatch at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

The fighting erupted in the final moments after Despatch scored a try to level the scores at 22-22 in a match played as a curtain-raiser to the Southern Kings-Lions Super Rugby friendly.

Concerned Despatch president Willem Oliphant made his way onto the side of the field to try to restore calm as the blows rained down in front of referee Rodney Boneparte after tempers boiled over among the angry players.

“What happened at the end was disgusting and I will be taking matters further. We have the incident on video,” a fuming acting Southern Kings head coach and EP Academy manager Robbi Kempson said.

“I think the referee and his adjudicators were pathetic. I do not know why they are reffing. There should have been a red card for the punch on 18-year-old Kings player Tyler Paul,” the former Springbok prop said.

“When it started, the officials did not bother to get involved. You had an 18-year-old against men. The refs are there to protect the players and they did not do that.

“For an 18-year-old to get punched right in front of the referee with a full fist and nothing happens is absolutely despicable.

“I do not now how the fight started, but we can look at that as well. But that is beside the point. The kid was standing there and he was punched for no reason whatsoever and that is disgusting,” Kempson said.

Oliphant said: “I do not think this matter needs to be taken further. It happened at the end of a good game and players from both sides were involved.

“These things happen in rugby. At the end, there was a good vibe and all the players shook hands,” he said.