Cape Town - Bishops Diocesan College said it is investigating ugly scenes that surfaced on social media in the aftermath of a Cape Town schools derby rugby match at the weekend.
Videos showed a brawl between under-19 rugby players from Bishops and the South African College High School (SACS) after the derby match played at the Piley Rees Field in Rondebosch on Saturday.
SACS, one of the oldest high schools in South Africa, raced to a 10-point lead within the opening 15 minutes, but the home team rallied valiantly to remain in the contest.
The second half was played almost entirely inside the visitors’ 22m line, as SACS resiliently defended their line.
A try was eventually scored in the final minute of normal time and, as increasing pressure paid off, Bishops defeated SACS 12-10.
One conversion decided a game of four tries, and Bishops won for the first time since March.
Scenes of jubilation followed the final whistle. However, a video that surfaced on social media shows a brawl breaking out following the celebrations.
In the clip, captured from behind SACS’s goalpost, SACS players can be seen with their hands on their heads, disappointed at conceding a try, as reported by SA Rugby Magazine.
A Bishops player can also be seen celebrating, this leading to the two clashing with one another, sparking what came next.
Players from the two schools exchanged blows, while spectators attempted to break up the brawl.
A woman believed to be a parent also clashed with one of the SACS players after he pulled her away from the group that was fighting.
The two then had a heated exchange, and the woman almost smacked the SACS player across the face as more spectators ran onto the field to try to stop the fracas.
Bishops confirmed to the Cape Argus on Monday that it is investigating an incident where a spectator allegedly slapped a SACS player at the end of the First XV rugby game.
“While our investigation is ongoing at this stage, we strongly condemn this kind of behaviour, which is in clear breach of the school’s values and our expectations of our spectators and have apologised to the SACS headmaster and the player’s parents,” Bishops said in a statement.
The school said there was no place for the behaviour under any circumstances, and in school sport in particular.
The videos posted by Seth Rotherham on YouTube garnered more than 1 000 views each.
Bishops’s basic values, as per their website, include honesty, self-control and the utmost respect for officials and rivals while demonstrating a love of the game via responsible participation
SACS’ ethos aims to establish a thriving rugby brand based on perseverance, hard effort, pride, loyalty, a “never-say-die” mentality, enjoyment and freedom of speech.
In response to the incident, Liesel Jenkinson, personal assistant to SACS’s headmaster, referred the Cape Argus to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) for comment.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said there is “nothing further to comment on at this stage”.
The behaviour of both sets of players, including spectators, has left a bad taste in the mouths, with social media users claiming that both schools should be held accountable.
Janine Read wrote on Facebook: “I was shocked by this video. The young SACS man was doing the correct thing by moving the ‘Granny’ politely out of the way. And then she slapped him. These types of parents should not be allowed to watch matches ever again. Such a bad example being set for the youth. I hope the school who the granny belonged to will chastise her appropriately.”
Johann Francois Joubert added: “Question here is why is the hosting school allowing spectators right up against the dead-ball line? Majority of these heated instances can be avoided if proper Boksmart protocols and crowd control is adhered to.”