Discrimination?

smiles

Two All Black greats have questioned the fairness of Auckland RugbyUnion bans of up to 16 months for five Kelston Boys High 1st XV playersinvolved in a weekend on-field brawl.

The students were forbiddenfrom playing competitively in any form of the game - including leagueor touch - for terms ranging from 10 to 16 months, in a decision givenin the early hours of yesterday morning.

Four Auckland Grammar students received six-week bans for their part in last Saturday's fight.

Butthe rugby union's disciplinary committee is facing a growing backlashover the sentences and the difference in the penalties imposed on thetwo schools.

Former All Black winger Va'aiga "Inga" Tuigamala - a Kelston Boys High School old boy - said the disciplinary system had failed.

"You talk about being fair and transparent - it takes two to tango.

"Theseare young men learning how to be competitive on the field. I'm notexcusing what happened, but the punishments will tarnish theirreputations for life."


Tuigamala, who works with former Manu Samoa player To'o Vaega,father of the Kelston 1st XV captain, said it was difficult to feelthere was any justice.

"I'm befuddled. On what basis have theymade this judgment? I don't think the committee has thought it through.I'm appalled by it."

He said members of the Vaega family were bitterly disappointed.
Former All Black flanker Michael Jones said the committee had to explain how it arrived at its decision.

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"On the one hand you have a very severe punishment, and on the other a very lenient punishment.

"This has not gone down well from the outside looking in and communities need the justification."

The disciplinary committee delivered its decision after spending more than 10 hours deliberating.

Jones said disciplinary action was needed, but he questioned its severity.

"Ifthey were looking for fall guys [for bad behaviour in rugby] then itneeded to happen a long time ago and to those at a higher level whothese boys look up to."

Kelston principal Steve Watt said theschool was considering appealing against the bans and was "reviewingthe options" open to it.

"Some decisions will be made after the weekend," he said.

AucklandGrammar headmaster John Morris indicated after the hearing that somestudents from his school could face further internal discipline.

Hedid not return calls yesterday, but wrote on the school's website thathe had watched the video of the incident frame-by-frame.

"Some of our boys have to take responsibility for responding most inappropriately, regardless of which team started the fracas."

The suspended players have seven days from the time of the judgment to appeal against their sentences.

Amember of the disciplinary committee, former detective senior sergeantNeil Grimstone, said last night that the bans were tailored toindividual players depending on their rugby commitments.

"We were privy to a lot of things that are not in the public domain," he told TV One's Close Up programme.
"We've made our decisions on video footage other people have not seen."

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
* Sarah-Jane Neville - lawyer for Ellis Gould.
* Peter Hackshaw - detective.
* Neil Grimstone - former detective senior sergeant.
* Barry Sharp - rugby referee.

SIN BIN
How high-profile cases compare:
* 0 weeks - Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu for spear-tackling Brian O'Driscoll.
* 6 weeks - Four Auckland Grammar 1st XV players.
* 8 weeks - Schalk Burger for gouging Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.
* 6 months - New Zealand-born Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley for gouging three different players in 2007.
* 9 months - Richard Loe for eye-gouging fellow All Black Greg Cooper in 1992.
* 10-16 months - Five Kelston Boys High 1st XV players.
* 18 months - Johan Le Roux for biting All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick's ear during South Africa's 1995 tour.
* 2 years - Wendell Sailor for testing positive for cocaine in 2004.
* 3 years - Harlequins coach Dean Richards for the 'Bloodgate' scandal.
* 14 years (in prison) - French player Marc Cecillion for the 2004 murder of his wife.

z-score

Yes, I agree this issue needs to be discussed.

What do you think about this smiles?

smiles

no idea, unless someone upload the video onto youtube.

z-score

There is, oh yeah I didn't send it to you yet. Here it is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kby3QmRYF0c