Two junior rugby league teams banned for season over wild fight
Two Sydney teams have been suspended from a junior rugby league tournament after a brawl that spilt over the field of play and into the crowd forced the game to be abandoned. WATCH THE VIDEO.
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Two junior league teams have been kicked out of the competition following a wild brawl that spilt on to the sidelines in another ugly incident at local sporting fields.
Cronulla Sutherland Junior Rugby League teams Como-Jannali and Engadine Dragons have been banned from competing in the Emerging Cup, a tournament that targets under-20s players, following an incident on August 2 at Anzac Oval in Engadine.
WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
The brawl follows a sickening trend in sporting matches across the state that has seen a stabbing attack, a man charged for allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old, a soccer player who punched his coach in the face and a rugby league referee being knocked unconscious.
NSW Rugby League has shown a zero-tolerance policy for any violence on or off the field this season and its tough punishments resulted in season-long bans for Como-Jannali and Engadine.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden did not shy away from the crackdown.
“The NSWRL has zero tolerance for any behaviour that threatens the safety of participants, officials and spectators involved in junior sport, who should be able to expect to play and/or attend and enjoy community sport without any concerns or fears,” Mr Trodden said.
“We make no apology for taking a strong stance and standing down the two teams involved in this incident for the remainder of the season.”
Video footage of the incident shows players rushing off the field and down a slope to continue the melee in the 53rd minute of the match, which Engadine was leading 32-4.
Bystanders swarm the players, but do not get involved as officials rush to calm the situation.
The referee abandons the game immediately.
The team’s were banned on August 14 and leave to appeal the punishment was denied on August 21.
Cronulla Sutherland chairman Nathan Waugh supported the clubs and lobbied the NSWRL for a softer punishment.
“I was very disappointed in the outcome,” Mr Waugh said.
“I’m fully understanding that when you look at the situation on video it’s not a pretty incident, but it’s not a violent incident.
“I’m just really disappointed for the players.
“I have to respect the process and the decision. I understand the process.
“We will do everything we can to ensure the competition is viable.”
Mr Waugh said no player was suspended for the incident, allowing them to play in other age groups.
The Emerging Cup is a relatively new competition that was started by Mr Waugh and involves teams across the Sutherland Shire and St George districts. The expulsion of the two teams leaves just four remaining.
Correspondence seen by The Saturday Telegraph canvases the idea of withdrawing teams from the NSWRL competition to start an “in-house” breakaway tournament, but that has since been quashed.
The incident comes as administrators try to keep matches being played despite widespread COVID concerns.
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Originally published as Two junior rugby league teams banned for season over wild fight