Official complaint laid with ARU over weekend rugby brawl

An official complaint has been laid with the Auckland Rugby Union after a female spectator and her son were allegedly attacked by opposition players during a championship match on the weekend.

An Auckland Rugby Union spokeswoman said Suburbs Rugby Club laid a complaint against Otahuhu Rugby Club players on Monday afternoon following a brawl at the end of Saturday's Premier Development grade final at Shadbolt Park in West Auckland.

It's claimed players from Otahuhu jumped a fence and began attacking the woman after she cheered for her son who had just scored a try near the end of the match.

Club president Colin Farrell said two Otahuhu players wrenched flagstaffs from the pitch and used them to attack the Suburbs supporter, along with a woman who came to her aid.

Video footage has emerged showing a woman surrounded by players, clutching a frightened young boy tightly to protect him from the fracas.

"Why are they attacking? They've got kids up there? What is wrong with them?" says an incredulous spectator as violence erupts in the crowd across the field.

Terrified women and children can be heard crying as heated exchanges take place between the opposing team members.

Witnesses say the attack followed an on-field scuffle involving players from both teams.

Otahuhu were holding a board meeting last night with coaches and players who were involved in the incident, club president John Roache said.

"We'll listen to their side of the story, we'll see the video footage from the other side and go from there," he said.

Everyone had their own version of events and "we need to get it right", Roache said. "We can't do anything without knowing the full story."

Police confirmed yesterday they were still investigating the incident and were appealing for witnesses.

Roache had initially heard the match was called off, but the ARU confirmed it had finished on time and the referee was not required to submit a match report.

"In regards to the incident, an official complaint was received this afternoon," she said last night.

"From here that gets forwarded to an independently appointed complaints review officer, so it is his job to decide what further action will be taken."