Following a Cape Town schools rugby derby match over the weekend, unpleasant images appeared on social media. Bishops Diocesan College has stated that it is investigating them.
Also read: Fight involving players and parents tarnishes Cape schools derby
After Saturday’s rivalry match at Piley Rees Field in Rondebosch, videos appeared to show a scuffle between South African College High School (SACS) and Bishops under-19 rugby players.
One of the oldest high schools in South Africa, SACS, jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first fifteen minutes of the game, but the home team made a strong comeback to tie the score.
Due to SACS’s tenacious line defence, the second half was played virtually exclusively inside the visitors’ 22-metre line.
In the last minute of normal time, a try was eventually scored, and as mounting pressure paid off, Bishops triumphed.
After four tries, one conversion determined the outcome, and Bishops triumphed for the first time since March.
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The last whistle was greeted by scenes of celebration. But a video that went viral on social media appears to show a fight starting after the festivities.
According to SA Rugby Magazine, SACS players are seen in the video, which was taken from behind the goalpost, with their hands on their heads in disappointment at giving up a try.
A Bishops player is also seen having fun, which caused the two to argue and set off the subsequent events.
While bystanders tried to break up the incident, players from the two schools traded blows.
One of the SACS players also got into an argument with a woman who appeared to be a parent after he moved her away from the fighting gang.
Then, when other spectators rushed onto the pitch to try to break up the altercation, the two got into a furious argument, during which the woman nearly hit the SACS player across the face.
Bishops told the Cape Argus on Monday that it is looking into a report that a fan slapped a SACS player at the conclusion of the First XV rugby match.
‘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 declared that the behaviour had no place in school sports or anywhere else for that matter.
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According to their website, Bishops’ core principles include integrity, restraint and the highest regard for referees and opponents while exhibiting a passion for the game via conscientious play.
The mission of SACS is to build a strong rugby brand via tenacity, diligence, pride, loyalty, a ‘never-say-die’ attitude, fun, and freedom of speech.
Both schools should be held liable, according to social media users, because of the way both sets of players—including spectators—have behaved.
Post by Janine Read 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.’
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Also read:
Accusations of racism and discrimination lodged against SACS
Picture: Bishops Rugby / Facebook