Prominent Shute Shield club hit with breach notice over alleged racial abuse

Rugby is grappling with another racial abuse investigation after prominent Sydney club Eastern Suburbs was issued with a breach notice for alleged racial vilification of West Harbour players by its supporters during a testy day of trial matches last month.

Just days after Super Rugby Pacific authorities launched an investigation into alleged racial abuse of a Fijian Drua player by a Melbourne Rebels fan, the Sydney Rugby Union confirmed it had issued Eastern Suburbs with a notice of alleged breaches of the Rugby Australia Code of Conduct arising from two trial games against West Harbour at Woollahra Oval on March 16.

The SRU began an investigation after West Harbour players alleged they were subjected to racial abuse from the sidelines during the second grade and first grade trial matches.

The Concord-based club submitted five witness statements and reports from players and officials, detailing the alleged abuse, and the SRU also collected reports from the referees of the first and second grade games. Vision of both games was also scrutinised by the SRU.

Easts officials said they had investigated the incident and “refute the allegation in the most strenuous terms”. The matter appears certain to now go to an independent Code of Conduct committee hearing, as per Rugby Australia’s guidelines.

“The club undertook a thorough investigation, interviewing 12 people including a board member on the hill where it was alleged to have occurred, and found zero corroborating evidence,” Easts president Dave Allen said.

“I have been involved with the club for 25 years and have not once heard any racist language. The club prides itself on its inclusivity, with around half of first grade being of Polynesian decent, and our last two head coaches being Polynesian.

“Rest assured, if a spectator was found to have made a racist remark towards a player they would be permanently banned from the premises.”

The West Harbour club declined to comment.

“Sydney Rugby Union were made aware of allegations of racial abuse following the Easts v Wests trial match at Woollahra Oval, and started investigations immediately, in gathering reports and statements from West Harbour players and officials, referees and independent third parties,” SRU general manager Peter Watkins said.

“Sydney Rugby Union certainly take all allegations of racial vilification seriously. Sydney Rugby informed both clubs we are investigating … and we have briefed Easts and Wests throughout and checked on the welfare of the players involved.

“We officially sent a breach notice to Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club and raised it with the SRU board last night. We have given Easts the opportunity to formally respond to Sydney Rugby Union.”

The notice issued to Easts alleged there had been breaches of five sections of the Rugby Australia Code of Conduct, which establishes the “standards of behaviour” that cover all rugby “participants” in Australia, including spectators.

The notice alleges there were breaches of the expectation of all participants to not engage in behaviour that is “sexist, racist or homophobic/transphobic” or “intimidating, threatening or aggressive” and to not “behave in a manner that constitutes physical, emotional, racial, religious or sexual harassment”.

The notice also includes alleged breaches of the expectation on participants including spectators to “not commit any acts of violence or intimidation within the venue in which the Match is being played including (without limitation) the tunnel, changing rooms and/or warm-up areas.”

Under the Rugby Australia Code of Conduct disputes process, an official denial of the breaches from Easts will see the SRU convene an independent Code of Conduct committee, to conduct a hearing and determine sanctions, if required.

If the alleged breaches are proven, Easts could face sanctions as a club, ranging from reprimands and fines through to penalties such as the loss of competition points.

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