Renegades expelled for rest of season

The  Rouse Hill Renegades have been expelled from the NSW Suburban Rugby Union competition for the rest of the season following a brawl.

The Rouse Hill Renegades have been expelled from the NSW Suburban Rugby Union competition for the rest of the season. Picture: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

The Rouse Hill Renegades have been expelled from the NSW Suburban Rugby Union competition for the rest of the season following a brawl.

Five Renegades first grade players were called to explain their actions at the NSW Suburban Rugby Union’s judiciary panel on July 20, but they did not attend.

The union gave them another chance to appear on July 27, but the five players – plus another who was called to the panel – again did not appear.

The panel was investigating a brawl that occurred after a round 14 match between the Renegades and the Blacktown Warriors on July 16.

A police report said the brawl, at Kellyville Park in Memorial Ave, involved players and a spectator and resulted in two players being knocked to the ground unconscious.

Both injured players, one from Ropes Crossing and one from Stanhope Gardens, were taken to Westmead Hospital for observation and later released.

Members from the club’s committee attended both panels and the NSW Suburban Rugby Union said they had fully co-operated.

However, as a result of the players failing to attend the panel, the club was expelled from the rest of this year’s competition effective immediately.

“We don’t take these decisions lightly to expel clubs ... but we have zero tolerance for this sort of behaviour and clubs have to be responsible for those players they put on the field,” competition manager Tim Richards said.

The Renegades, who play in the NSW Suburban Rugby Union’s Division 4, had a bye in round 15 but will miss round 16 and the finals.

A Rouse Hill Renegades club spokesman declined to comment.