Five Kelston Boys High schoolboys banned for 10-16 months following a brawl in their first 15 rugby match with Auckland Grammar will appeal the length of their suspensions.
Kelston Boys High principal Steve Watt said the appeals were being launched on the grounds that the penalties were manifestly excessive and the disparity with those handed to four Auckland Grammar students amounted to a miscarriage of justice.
While the appeals were being launched by the five individuals, the school would pay the costs.
The suspensions by the Auckland Rugby Union (ARU) disciplinary committee followed a brawl at the end of the Auckland secondary school rugby semifinal, won 20-9 by Auckland Grammar, on August 15.
Auckland Grammar players received bans of between two and seven weeks, forcing them to miss Saturday's final, in which they were heavily defeated by Mt Albert Grammar.
The five Kelston Boys High players received much longer suspensions. Two were suspended until June 30 next year, two until August 31 next year and one until December 31 next year.
Mr Watt said in a statement that the school had no issue with the condemnation inherent in the penalties imposed.
However, "the extent and the disparity of the penalties imposed have given rise to widespread disquiet and disbelief as to their propriety from not only the local community but also the wider rugby community".
Kelston Boys High suspended the students from the school before the ARU committee's decision last week. Mr Watt said despite this, their care and welfare remained the school's responsibility.
"Therefore, in the face of the unprecedented publicity, the boys have received support in the form of counselling and financial assistance from the school to the extent of the $1500 plus GST, this being the cost to lodge their appeals with the rugby union.
"The school would like to thank those who have contacted the school with their support for the boys and those in the legal profession who have offered their services pro bono to assist the boys with their appeals."
The ARU committee on Friday said the sentences were in part based on the fact that Auckland Grammar had Saturday's final and potentially other matches for the rest of the year, while Kelston's defeat by Grammar meant their 2009 season was over.
This meant a 10 month ban for a Kelston player was effectively the same as a four week ban for a Grammar player, it said.
The apparent disparity between bans prompted criticism from former All Blacks Va'aiga Tuigamala, a Kelston old boy, and Michael Jones.
Further criticism came when it emerged one of the panel, former policeman Neil Grimstone, has a child attending Auckland Grammar.
The ARU said Mr Grimstone had alerted the committee and the schools but committee members and both schools gave him permission to remain on the panel.
Mr Watt said he was hopeful the appeal process could be resolved quickly so the school could focus on its core function of schooling.
"As I have said before - we can all learn from this inexcusable incident and with the goodwill of all involved, make sure that it doesn't happen again."
- NZPA
Kelston to appeal 'excessive' sentences: Principal
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