Six banned for after-match fights

Six people have been banned from a Northland rugby club because of fighting which broke out at a function after the district final.

And a player has been given a warning for instigating fights after the Southern Districts Premier final between Wellsford and the Mid Western team at the Maungakaramea Domain on August 8.

Phil Jurisich, of the Mid Western club, said about half a dozen men, aged in their early 20s, were asked to leave the Mid Western Rugby Football Club in Maungakaramea, 20km south of Whangarei, after they began fighting each other about 10pm.

The bar at the rugby club, where about 150 people were gathered, closed at 11pm - an hour early - because of the brawling.

"We had a lot of young girls here and we don't need that nonsense," Mr Jurisich said.

The men had been sent letters saying they were banned from games and the clubrooms unless they could prove to the committee they would not act irresponsibly again and offer ways to contribute to the club.