Mid Western's reputation as a family-orientated rugby club is being defended after an altercation following the Southern Districts Rugby final was publicised in a national newspaper.
Seven people were banned from Mid Western's clubrooms for fighting at the aftermatch function but Mid Western president Paul McDowell insisted no players were involved
and the club upheld a zero tolerance fighting policy.
"When people think of rugby clubs they think of a culture all about brawling," he said.
"But I have been involved with this club for 32 years and it's certainly not the culture I've seen.
"Mid Western has an outstanding culture - it's tidy, clean and well managed."
Wellsford won the final but a function was held at Mid Western to celebrate what was achieved by the club during the season - including the senior side making their first Southern Districts final since the 1960s. Two incidents had marred an otherwise enjoyable evening, McDowell said.
The first case involved regulars at the club.
"It was a family dispute that has been brewing over a few years and they ended up venting their anger that night," McDowell said.
"They were removed from the club and went home and have since apologised."
The second incident involved locals from Maungakaramea, who had no association with the rugby club, the president said.
"These guys came in and thought they could do whatever they liked and were being disruptive, so management asked them to leave. As we did that one fella struck one of our senior management."
More people became involved at that point and a tussle flared outside the clubrooms. Police were called.
While anyone was welcome in the club, they needed to have the right attitude and not be there to cause trouble.
The instigators of the tussle were banned from the club rooms by senior management.
"A couple of fellas who were banned have had previous warnings.
"They have the right to come before the committee and try to convince us they have something to contribute to the club to lift the ban," McDowell said.
Being a licensed premises, McDowell said there was no way to predict this sort of behaviour but the club's policy of zero tolerance to fighting was designed to prevent any trouble.
The event was reported in the national paper following the highly publicised brawl between Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys' High First IX players after their semifinal at Auckland on the weekend. McDowell insisted the Mid Western incident was completely different - off the field, with no players involved.
