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A brawl involving up to 100 students from two top rugby schools broke out yesterday - in front of All Black coach Graham Henry and rugby great Sir Wilson Whineray.
The fight, between players and supporters from Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys High, lasted five minutes and led to at least one schoolboy being knocked out, according to a witness.
Auckland Rugby Union chairman Ken Baguley said last night the organisation would launch an investigation into the brawl: "Anything that brings rugby into disrepute will be dealt with."
Kelston Old Boy and former Tonga rugby captain Willie Lose said: "I think there's a lot of pressure that goes with playing in the 1st XV when it gets to that part of the competition."
However, Lose was also disturbed to be told members of the crowd joined in.
"Crowd behaviour in this country is appalling."
The principals of both schools said the opposition carried some responsibility for the incident, which took place at Grammar's home field in front of 2500 people.
But the fight was described as "extremely disappointing" by Henry, a former principal of Kelston Boys, teacher at Grammar and coach of both schools' 1st XVs.
The fight started after a last-minute Grammar try sealed a 20-9 victory in an Auckland secondary schools cup semifinal. Eyewitness and Grammar old boy Geoff Dale said immediately after the try "somebody got upset and started throwing punches".
"They all just joined in, including the Kelston reserves who were behind that goal line."
Dale said there were at least 60 schoolboys "punching each other in every direction".
He said a Kelston boy knocked out a Grammar boy with a "king hit" to the face.
Grammar headmaster John Morris said the fight began after flanker David Adams scored the final try.
Morris said a Kelston player "laid into" Adams and most of the players from both teams then got involved.
The fight intensified when spectators ran on to the field and joined in, a situation he described as "appalling".
Morris said his players would not be punished but he could not speak for Kelston.
Kelston principal Steve Watt said he did not see the beginning of the fight and invited Morris to supply details.
He would punish any of his students identified as starting the fight and expected Morris to do the same for his students.
"I wouldn't like you to say this was a Kelston thing because I don't think it is.
"From my view, there were spectators from Auckland Grammar that ran from a long, long way away, 50m or more, to become involved. ...
"It was an ugly incident but it is something that is part of society."
Former All Black captain Whineray, said: "It was distasteful really ... this shouldn't happen."
The conversion attempt took place after the fight, and was followed by both teams shaking hands.
Yesterday's other semifinal saw Mt Albert Grammar beat St Peters College 17-16.
REPORTING TEAM: Rebecca Lewis, Rebecca Milne, Anna Leask and Carolyne Meng-Yee
