Violence in club rugby attracts few headlines
Roar Pro 
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I hesitated slightly before writing this, but I have to say that I think there is a fair bit of hypocrisy in Australian sport – both in the media and amongst followers.
On Saturday, there was an incident at a Shute Shield rugby semi final where a spectator allegedly reached over the fence and punched one of the Gordon players.
It was an incident that was viewed by many on TV and at the game and was reported in the Sunday papers.
Which is all well and good, but I must admit, one question has been going through my mind since I first read the article (deep in the sports section) over my toast on Sunday morning: what would have been the reaction if it happened in a game of football (or soccer for those who have not yet adopted the official term)?
I will tell you.
It would have been the lead story on TV news and would have been the front-back page headline on the Sunday papers rather than being buried in the sports section as it was.
Now, as regular readers of the Roar would know, I am not a football ‘tragic’ and nor do I pretend to be an in-depth follower of the game. Hence, I do not have any particular barrow to push.
However, I am astounded beyond belief that there hasn’t been a loud outcry of shame, disbelief and outrage that this has happened.
And the question has to be asked as to why?
Fact is, if this had happened in an A-League, State Premier League or a game in the park, this volume of outrage that it would have caused would have set talkback radio shows alight Monday morning.
Why haven’t there been loud calls from people in the street for the police to be involved to arrest these supporters for their alleged assault on a player involved in the game?
Why didn’t representatives from NSW Rugby immediately come out with statements of strong condemnation of these acts of violence (which it was) and their commitment to ensure that it doesn’t happen again?
Why hasn’t the ARU come out and insisted that a full investigation into the act be undertaken to ensure that those kiddies who play rugby and have aspirations of representing their club don’t have to worry about being attacked by spectators while playing the game?
Why has John O’Neill been so silent in recent days? Surely, being a leader means being seen in bad times as well as in the good.
What it highlights is that there is a fair bit of hypocrisy that exists within the Australian sports community – amongst the media and the supporters.
What happened on Saturday afternoon was a slight not just on rugby union but on Australian sport in general.
As such, this should have had everyone screaming from the rooftops about the bad example that sets ‘our children’ and demand action be taken to ensure it never happens again.
However, seeing that it occurred during a rugby union game on the northern suburbs of Sydney, it seems to have only stirred a mild case of displeasure.
Or am I wrong?
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September 15th 2009 @ 7:57am
Matt S said | September 15th 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
A spectator was bashed to death at an amateur AFL game on the weekend but alas hardly nothing in the media outside Victoria. This doesn’t happen every day and I could only imagine what coverage it would have got had it been a rugby league game? Remember the father that was bashed at a junior rugby league game a few months back, even made A Current Affair and all the news bulletins!
September 15th 2009 @ 8:06am
Fuchal said | September 15th 2009 @ 8:06am | Report comment
I can’t speak for the senior sports editors at newspapers, radio stations or television broadcasters, but I think you will find both NSW Rugby and Warringah Rugby were quick to condemn the incident and throw their support behind a full investigation. I have read articles in both the local rag (Manly Daily) as well as several online news sites where both have been quoted as saying they are working with police and other bodies in identifying and arresting those responsible – and rightly so.
Having said that, Rugby in this country has the benefit of a tradition of good spectator behaviour, if not the best, when it comes to the four football codes. In contrast, Soccer (yes, I don’t care for the “official” term) has the worst history of spectator and player behaviour here, so I don’t think it would be hypocritical if Soccer drew more of a media focus should the same unfortunate incident occur in their camp. Remember, we are but four seasons into a new-look Soccer comp which required a Rugby man to clean up from its decades of bitter in-fighting amongst both organisers and spectators.
Hopefully those low lives who committed this act will be brought to justice soon, and made a harsh example of.
D
September 15th 2009 @ 8:37am
Bay35Pablo said | September 15th 2009 @ 8:37am | Report comment
What Nuchall said.
Plus this happening in rugby is the exception not the rule, as is the impression with some other codes.
What was annoying was watching the news and seeing the match mentioned only in the context of this incident, when club rugby isn’t usually reported on in FTA news. Any news is good news doesn’t apply …
September 15th 2009 @ 8:40am
Brett McKay said | September 15th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Fred, it’s an interesting point you make here, and along with the reaction had it been a football game, as Matt says above imagine the reaction if it had been an NRL game?? I think all the investigations and condemnations you asked about have now come through. Perhaps an early condemnation by officials might have fuelled the fire in the press??
Two links for you, the first from the Canberra Times, where after a Christian Lealiifano conversion in injury time handed Tuggeranong the ACTRU Premiership, celebrating Tuggeranong fans were met with angry Queanbeyan supporters, with several fights the result. The second is from RugbyHeaven today (sorry) where it sounds like the Warringah-Gordon “puncher” has been found.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/vikings-steal-spiteful-clash/1622053.aspx
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/news/scuffling-supporter-steps-forward/2009/09/14/1252780270491.html
September 15th 2009 @ 8:42am
AndyRoo said | September 15th 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Well there was a brawl in Nth Qld following the local Rugby League Grand Final involving allegedly 50 people and I am sure numerous incidents occured in State League Soccer over the years. And the guy above pointed out its not really as rare in Rugby as they think. I also remember when i was last in NZ a huge brawl involving Kings County when they were relegated
But this incident got coverage because there was footage.
If no footage it would have made even less news perhaps just a byline in a few newspapers
September 15th 2009 @ 8:58am
Fred Magee said | September 15th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
All, thanks for the comments thus far. It was just something that struck me over the last few days that the intensity of the coverage/reaction etc didnt seem to be as high as it should be. I think everyone agrees that the incident was deplorable but I felt the question had to be asked as to whether we do have double standards or prejudices when it comes to these things happening in different sports and the resulting coverage & attention it recieves.
Again, just my opinion but the volume of coverage, chatter etc this should have generated was considerably less than the noise created by Jason Taylor’s Mad Sunday episode a week before. And it isnt about dragging rugby down either but asking whether we do carry some prejudices when it comes to sports as a whole -which I believe is worth the debate.
September 15th 2009 @ 9:01am
Vented Relief said | September 15th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
If this had happened at a soccer game it wouldn’t have been two spectators involved….. as soon as one spectator got involved a hundred other soccer supporters would be in there and it would turn into a riot. Thats why this has been given precious little coverage because it was a few punches and then the perpetrator running our of the ground. Nothing much to report.
September 15th 2009 @ 9:51am
Mark Young said | September 15th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Yeah Soccer fans are just mindless lemmings who will follow each other into a brawl. Thank Goodness Rugby fans are more refined, smarter, better looking and have better personal hygeine.
September 15th 2009 @ 9:09am
AndyRoo said | September 15th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Theres also the who cares factor… Rugby League players are big stories becasue it’s the number one game in NSW.
In the same week an Adelaide based HAL (who had actually played for the Soceroos) got in trouble an U20 Toyota Cup player did something similar and they got about equal coverage. If it was an NRL player it would have received 10 times as much coverage.
September 15th 2009 @ 9:31am
Matt S said | September 15th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Actually rugby (union) has been in the paper a couple of times regarding spectator behaviour at school level games so it isn’t quite a one off as it seems. But saying that, all codes need to remain vigilant of this type of behaviour. It just seems some codes more than others are dragged over the coals by the media.
I have links to 6 quite nasty spectator incidents in AFL over the past month or so incl. the death but the media has been most quietest over incidents in AFL for some reason.
September 15th 2009 @ 9:33am
Pippinu said | September 15th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
It there’s been a death – that’s serious and warrants coverage – but I admit – I haven’t heard of it.
September 15th 2009 @ 9:32am
Pippinu said | September 15th 2009 @ 9:32am | Report comment
I understand that a schoolboy grand final in the ACT, between Marist and St Eddies (both very well known rugby nurseries) was called off because of some sort of punch up – but I’m unsure of the exact details.