Small players, big brawl

Otahuhu College has spoken out about yesterday's violent brawl at a South Auckland rugby game which saw a 14-year-old knocked-out. The teen was knocked unconscious during a mass brawl involving up to 50 players and spectators following an under-15 rugby match between Otahuhu College and Tangaroa College. Otahuhu College left a message on its Facebook page this morning saying the student was making "steady progress". It went on to say that it didn't want the incident to "detract from the hundreds of OC students and their families who play, watch, and support sport every week". The school's comments come following rising concerns that ugly sideline antics are ruining junior sports. Police officers at amateur sports grounds are becoming a familiar sight. ONE News Facebook readers have called the incident and the increase in violence in junior sports "ugly behaviour" and are calling for a ban on the players and supporters involved in the fight. "Ban the players involved from playing for up to a year," David Richardson wrote. "Ban all the kids and parents involved from all rugby. Permanently," Digger Wright suggested, adding "Maybe that will sent he [sic] message that no one will put up with this kind of crap." Nobody should have to put up with this kind of crap. I realise this is South Auckland we're talking about, but come on. Fights have no place in any non-combat sport except for ice hockey and roller derby.