- Rugby coaches at Wellington College in New Zealand issued a ban
- Guilty of verbally abusing a referee during a recent under-15s school match
- Witness stated that one coach was repeatedly labeled as referee ac***
At least two rugby coaches from New Zealand’s elite Wellington College have been handed long-term bans from the sport after abusing a referee during a recent junior match.
The College White under-15s team were leading Porirua-based Aotea College White 22-19 on May 25 when the referee stopped the match due to brutal abuse received from the touchline.
A witness at the match stated that a parent of a Wellington College student also verbally assaulted the same referee, prompting him to abandon the match on the hour mark.
‘The [Wellington College] The coach called the referee ac*** about ten times,” he told the club New Zealand herald.
‘He was [repeatedly] by saying, ‘Are you damn blind? to the ref.’
Rugby coaches at Wellington College in New Zealand have been handed long-term bans after abusing a referee in a recent junior match (Photo: A College footy squad in 2021)
A witness also stated that the coach in question had verbally assaulted students aged 13 and 14 (the university’s sports field, see photo)
Wellington College is an all-boys school founded in 1867 – alumni include Melbourne Storm NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona and footballer Leo Bertos
It is understood that the excited coach also labeled his junior players (aged 13 and 14) as ‘bloody idiots’.
Moreover, he was reportedly ‘He’s about to make some of his boys cry because of his excessive sideline abuse.
Wellington College’s executive sporting director Bryan Dickinson has confirmed that at least two coaches of the under-15s have been withdrawn from the next six matches following a judicial hearing.
The College’s rugby program includes former All Blacks star Piri Weepu, who coaches the 1st XV.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Weepu was involved in the incident during the under-15s match.
Wellington College alumni include Melbourne Storm NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona, footballer Leo Bertos and gold medal-winning Olympic rower Phillip Wilson.
Dave Keat, the college’s athletic director, said earlier this week that the school “will not tolerate bad behavior on the field or on the sidelines.”
“We will remind all our players, parents and community that we must respect referees… well, actually respect everyone and make every sporting event a safe environment.”