Two hurt in brawl at Samoa vs Tonga rugby league match
A cultural sporting match turned violent when a brawl allegedly erupted at a Samoa vs. Tonga rugby league presentation in Mt Druitt.
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A man has been charged and police are hunting for four men after an alleged brawl at Pacific Islands junior rugby league on Saturday which left two people seriously injured.
Police allege a group of men attended a sporting presentation at the end of the Toko Uso Cup match between Samoan and Tongan rugby league teams at Federation Forest in Mt Druitt when two men were allegedly assaulted.
It’s alleged one man was detained by a bystander while four other men fled the scene.
Police say a 21-year-old man was taken was found unconscious with facial injuries and taken to Westmead Hospital for treatment. A second man, aged 23, was taken to Nepean Hospital with cuts and bruises to his head. Their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.
Mt Druitt police arrested and charged a 21-year-old man with affray. He was granted bail to face Mt Druitt Local Court on October 30.
In a statement, host club Minchinbury Jets Junior Rugby League Club said the brawl was not linked to the Samoan or Tongan teams.
“(On Saturday) we witnessed some great footy from our juniors who proudly represented their cultural backgrounds,” the statement read.
“We watched kids and families cheering their teams on in a great community event.
“It is unfortunate that at the end of the day, an incident occurred at our grounds where we hosted two proud cultures with staff on board who are instilling the values of team work, cultural identity, family and harmony.
“This isolated incident was not football-related, Minchinbury-related or related to either the Samoa or Tonga NSW Camps.
“It is incidents such as these that ruin what was a great day of rugby league.
“We will not let this incident spoil the great day it was.”
A spokesman from Rugby League Samoa NSW (RLSNSW) said the club was assisting police in their investigation.
“The individuals involved in the incident are not associated with Rugby League Samoa NSW Chapter, Tonga Juniors or Minchinbury Jets JRLC, and do not represent the interests of either organisation or the game of rugby league,” the spokesman said.
“RLSNSW is providing full support to NSW Police in their ongoing investigations into the matter and will be providing no further comment at this time.”