Police team to take on Kelston 1st XV

Photo / NZ Herald

A police rugby team are to play against a West Auckland 1st XV involved in a brawl last month.

The manager of the Auckland police side, Detective Sergeant Mark Osbourne, said the decision to play Kelston Boys High as a warm-up to the annual police tournament had "nothing to do with the altercation" on August 15 against Auckland Grammar.

"We don't want a public outcry that we're fraternising with this schoolboy team. It's just a chance to get in some games before the tournament."

Mr Osbourne said the police had also asked Grammar for a game but it didn't fit in with the school's timetable.

During the uproar that followed the Kelston/Grammar brawl, the police force said it would consider cancelling its sponsorship of Auckland schools rugby if on-field violence continued.

The five Kelston boys banned from rugby for 10 to 16 months by the Auckland Rugby Union after the fight will not play in Wednesday's game.

The match will be a warm-up to the Challenge Cup police tournament in Tauranga starting on October 8. The Auckland team have held a series of games, including one against the Air Force last week which they won 36-15.