Far North senior rugby club captains have been given a rap across the knuckles for players' repeated foul play, with judiciary officials saying the skippers need to be able to control their teams.
After misbehaviour in the Mangonui senior rugby club round-seven game at Taipa on May 29, Eastern and Te Rarawa have had the two points awarded for the draw removed from the league standings.
The points deduction is for persistent fighting and divisiveness, which left referee Maurice Lambert with little choice but to call off the game 15 minutes early.
As well, both captains have been sinbinned from playing in tomorrow's round for their failure to control their teams on the day.
This weekend, Eastern begin round two of the Mangonui senior competition with a home game against Kaitaia at Taipa. The sides met in the Bell Shield final last year, Eastern winning with a last-minute try, and also taking this year's round-one clash at Arnold Rae Park.
