Rugby: Napier coach Ratcliffe hopes CBHS player gets help

Hawkes Bay Today

10 Sep, 2018 07:00 PM2 mins to read

NBHS coach Brendon Ratcliffe and his troops after Sunday's final loss to St Peter's College of Auckland. Photo / Duncan Brown

Napier Boys High School 1st XV coach Brendon Ratcliffe believes a Christchurch Boys High School player has issues to sort out before returning to the field.

The 16-year-old substitute hooker was given a red card by Wellington referee Vincent Ringrose after stomping on an opponent's head, then punching another player during the final seconds of his team's 31-12 National Top Four semifinal loss to NBHS in Palmerston North on Friday.

"I don't know whether the rugby field is the best place for that player. If he can't be disciplined enough in pressure situations he should get the necessary support to have those issues sorted before returning to rugby," Ratcliffe said yesterday.

Christchurch Boys headmaster Nic Hill told media the backlash from the incident had been an eye-opening experience for the teenager, who made a "huge mistake".

Hill said he was at the tournament and had spoken with the offending player, who had been forced to sit out Sunday's playoff for third against Hamilton Boys High School, which Christchurch lost 43-25.

"He's learned a really big lesson here: The higher you go up the better you've got to be. When the spotlight is on and you're being filmed, actions have consequences."

Hill added the player was scheduled to face the school's judiciary board today.

Ratcliffe didn't want the final seconds of Friday's match to take the focus away from the two second placings recorded by teams from his school during the past week.

Napier Boys were beaten 31-28 by St Peter's College of Auckland in Sunday's final of the National Top Four tournament and on Friday the school's under-15 team were pipped 17-13 by Hamilton Boys in the final of their national tournament in Auckland.

On Thursday the under-15 side beat Mt Albert Grammar School 22-19 in their semifinal. This was played at Mt Albert Grammar in front of 2000 students barracking for the hosts.