Two Blackfriars students expelled, more suspended, police called in after Intercol incident with Christian Brothers College

Images have emerged of the post-Intercol footy match incident that resulted in two Adelaide private school students being expelled and more suspended.

Senior students at an Adelaide all-boys private school have been expelled and police have been notified following an incident with a rival college.

Blackfriars Priory School principal David Ruggiero said two students had their “enrolments cancelled and a number of other students were suspended” following the incident last Thursday night.

It is the second private school scandal to emerge this week after details of a misogynistic and racist “fines list” at Pembroke – the state’s most expensive private school – came to light.

Pembroke still had not revealed what, if any, disciplinary action was being taken, despite being questioned multiple times by The Advertiser.

In a letter home to Blackfriars parents, Mr Ruggiero told the school community that “a few of our boys engaged in behaviour that is not only against our values but disrespected our longstanding relationship with CBC (Christian Brothers College)”.

Blackfriars and CBC have a long-running annual Intercol sporting rivalry that was held for the 18th year last week.

After the Intercol football match on Thursday night, a group of players set fire to a CBC sports jacket. The incident happened off school grounds.

This year was the first time Blackfriars had won the Intercol battle in eight years.

7NEWS has obtained images of students posed for pictures as a rival college's sports jacket was set on fire. Picture: 7NEWS

7NEWS has obtained images of a disturbing act that has plunged all-boys private school Blackfriars into crisis., Students posed for pictures as a rival college's sports jacket was set on fire., Several students have been expelled and suspended while police are now investigating Picture: 7NEWS

Images of the incident, obtained by 7NEWS, showed at least five students crowded around the burning CBC jacket attached to a pole.

The images depicted the students posing behind the smouldering jacket, with one holding a bottle.

David Ruggiero, principal of Blackfriars Priory School. Picture: Supplied by Blackfriars Priory School

Mr Ruggiero wrote to parents “with a heavy heart” and said he was “deeply grieved and feel a sense of shame marked by the actions of a few”.

“Despite all the effort we have put into fostering a culture of respect, especially during this significant Intercol week … this incident has overshadowed what should have been a week of pride for both our schools,” Mr Ruggiero wrote.

The letter sent home to families of Blackfriars students.

The letter was sent from the school’s principal David Ruggiero.

“The gravity of their (the students’) actions cannot be overstated. We have acted swiftly and decisively.”

He told parents that all the senior boys at the Catholic school in Prospect had been spoken to and that teachers were “working closely with families to ensure accountability”.

“Additionally the matter has been reported to the police, who are taking the necessary steps to follow up,” Mr Ruggiero wrote.

“What pains me most is how this has impacted the Blackfriars community.”

On Friday, when the letter was dated, the principal described the atmosphere as “sombre”.

“The disappointment is palpable among students and staff alike, as we are all keenly aware of the damage done to our reputation and the harm caused to our relationships with CBC,” Mr Ruggiero wrote.

He described that the broader student body expressed “overwhelming disgust towards this small group’s actions”.

“They understand the seriousness of the situation and the consequences that will follow,” Mr Ruggiero wrote.

Blackfriars private boys school in Prospect. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“We will work diligently to ensure that such incidents never happen again.”

In the letter, Mr Ruggiero apologised to parents and “especially the broader CBC community” on behalf of the school.

“I hope that, together we can turn this moment into an opportunity for growth and reaffirmation of what it means to be a part of the Blackfriars family,” he said.

The principal also noted that it affected him as an old scholar of Blackfriars and a former assistant principal of CBC.

It is understood a letter was also sent home to the CBC community.

But CBC principal David Johnston said the school was “confident that this incident will have no lasting impact on our relationship with Blackfriars”.

“The regrettable actions of a few individuals do not reflect the exceptional spirit and camaraderie that flourishes between our two schools,” Mr Johnston said.

“Our leadership teams collaborate closely, particularly in cultivating a culture of good sportsmanship and respect during Intercol events.

“We are dedicated to collaborating to guarantee that further Intercol events uphold the principles of healthy competition and mutual respect.”

Mr Johnston said he was “immensely proud of the conduct” CBC students displayed during the event.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the values of respect, integrity and sportsmanship, which lie at the heart of both CBC and Blackfriars,” he said.

Family members of Blackfriars students had mixed reactions to the decision to expel students following the incident.

Carmine Gareffa, 59, who has three nephews at the school, including one in Year 12, likened the incident to “burning a flag”.

“There’s no need for that stuff,” Mr Gareffa, a former student of the school, said.

“They’re getting carried away by watching the Crows and the Power Showdowns.”

He said while the students “have got to learn respect”, if the football players had an otherwise clean record they should not have been expelled.

“If it’s a first offence it’s a bit harsh (the punishment),” Mr Gareffa said.

The rivalry had gone too far, he said, as “you don’t know what it leads to”.

He said Pembroke should have followed the example Blackfriars set and punished students doing the wrong thing.

“You’ve got to get rid of the ringleaders,” Mr Gareffa said.

One parent, Kyle Smith, who has two boys at the school in Year 5 and 2, said burning the jacket was “a bit extreme”.

“I’m okay with banter but that’s too far,” Mr Smith, 38, said.

However, he believed the punishment was “pretty serious at this time of year” for senior students.

“If it was my kids I’d be challenging that,” Mr Smith said.

He believed the rivalry had not gone too far.

“Boys together are boys and we do get a little bit inappropriate,” Mr Smith said.

Bob Weightman, 72, who is the grandfather of a Year 4 student, said he “could see why the school has taken that position” of expelling students.

“We like to think the kids who go here are brought up with the right morals,” Mr Weightman said.

Expulsion “could be on the harsh side” but the grandfather said “those in charge of the school would have been expected to come down fairly severely on those who did it”.