- Rugby coaches at New Zealand’s Wellington College imposed bans
- Guilty of verbally abusing a referee in a recent under-15 school match
- A witness testified that a coach repeatedly labeled the referee as a ***
At least two rugby coaches from New Zealand’s elite Wellington College have received lengthy bans from playing the sport after abusing a referee in a recent youth match.
The College’s White Under-15 team was leading Porirua-based Aotea College White 22-19 on May 25 when the referee abandoned the contest due to the relentless abuse they suffered from the sidelines.
A witness to the match stated that the father of a Wellington College student also verbally attacked the same referee, which led to him ending the match on the hour mark.
“The (Wellington College) coach called the referee about 10 times,” he told the newspaper. New Zealand Herald.
“He was saying (repeatedly), ‘Are you fucking blind?’ to the referee.’
Rugby coaches at New Zealand’s Wellington College were handed lengthy bans after abusing a referee in a recent youth match (pictured, a College football team in 2021).
A witness also stated that the coach in question verbally attacked 13- and 14-year-old students (in the photo, the School’s sports field)
Wellington College is an all-boys school that was established in 1867; alumni include Melbourne Storm NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona and footballer Leo Bertos.
The enthusiastic coach is understood to have also labeled his youth players, aged 13 and 14, as “bloody idiots”.
Furthermore, it was supposedly ‘close to making some of his guys cry due to his excessive abuse on the bench.
Wellington College executive director of sport Bryan Dickinson has confirmed that at least two coaches of the under-15 team have been stood down for the next six matches following a court hearing.
The school’s rugby program includes former All Blacks star Piri Weepu, who coaches the 1st XV.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Weepu was involved in the under-15s match incident.
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 school’s athletic director, said earlier this week that the school “did not tolerate bad behavior on the field or on the sidelines.”
“We will send a reminder to all our players, parents and community about the need to respect the referees… well, really respect everyone and make any sporting event a safe environment.”