Referee flees schoolboy rugby game after brawl

The first of two all-in brawls between Dannevirke High School and Upper Hutt College on Saturday, which left rugby stalwarts disgusted. Photo / APN

A referee in a schoolboy rugby game was threatened by players and had to be accompanied off the field, following a game marred by brawling on Saturday.

The behaviour of Dannevirke High School and Upper Hutt College 1st XV players has been labelled "appalling" by one of the schools.

Dannevirke board of trustees chairman Stuart Brown said the board was meeting tonight to discuss the incident.

Mr Brown said there were concerns about the behaviour of players from both teams, but particularly worrying were threats made by Upper Hutt players towards the referee.

"He was threatened and had to be accompanied into the changing rooms," he said.

"I felt he did a fine job, but Upper Hutt were there for a scrap, basically."

Mr Brown said the school were considering laying a complaint with organisers of the Hurricanes Region 1st XV Rugby Tournament.

Spectators said a brawl broke out after Dannevirke scored a try, sealing their win, close to full time.

Dannevirke principal Mike Tribe who was at the game, said he didn't see what sparked the final brawl, but "all of a sudden, all hell broke loose".

The Dannevirke 1st XV had been spoken to and one player was stood down from playing this week. Two others would be monitored for their behaviour.

Upper Hutt College 1st XV coach Charlie Beckett said the incident was being dealt with by the organisers of the Hurricane region schools competition and he didn't want to make any comment.

"At this stage I don't want to say anything, I don't want to compromise anything," he said. "There are always two sides to the story and at this stage I don't want to give our side."

One Dannevirke spectator said a gesture from the Dannevirke try-scorer may have sparked the brawl.

"The fullback scored a try then got straight up and gave the finger to the Upper Hutt player who missed the tackle. The rest of the players then sprinted over and it was all on."

He said while Dannevirke reserves were held back by their coach, the Upper Hutt reserves ran 35 metres to join the fight. "That was disgraceful."