KUILS RIVER – A third incident at a high-school rugby match in two weeks has intensified concerns about spectator conduct at school-sports events.

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), said spectators twice invaded the field during the under-19A match between Hottentots-Holland High School (HHH) and De Kuilen High School on Saturday 15 August, becoming involved in altercations with players. An HHH player also allegedly physically confronted the match referee.

The match was an interschools fixture held at De Kuilen High in Kuils River, the fifth annual one between the schools, with boys’ and girls’ teams competing in rugby, netball and other codes.

It marks the third serious incident at a school-rugby match in two weeks. During the annual derby between Fairmont and The Settlers high schools at Fairmont in Durbanville on Saturday 1 August, the referee halted and suspended the match after a Fairmont player allegedly used a racial slur against a player of The Settlers.

On the same day, a Virseker Noordvaal Cup match between Menlopark and Dr EG Jansen high schools in Pretoria was abandoned after a large-scale brawl involving parents and learners erupted

At the HHH and De Kuilen interschools meet, the event was proceeding positively for most of the day until concerns arose during the first-team rugby match. “This conduct is regarded as unacceptable,” Hammond said, confirming no serious injuries were reported.
She added that the referee did not sustain any physical injuries.

On Monday 17 August, HHH principal Francois Fouché released a statement via the school’s Facebook page to address the incident. “No match between two teams must end the way the rugby match ended on Saturday, especially not at an educational institution,” the statement read.

He labelled the behaviour of spectators disappointing and urged adults to set better examples for the learners. “Referees will make mistakes. As coaches and players we must learn to deal with it respectfully on the field of play.”

Fouché confirmed the school is investigating the case and would act decisively against the player and others who “brought the school’s name in disregard”.

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He assured parents that the annual winter interschools meet with De Kuilen High will continue, but said the school is already working on measures to enhance player safety.

Hammond stressed that the WCED condemns any behaviour that undermined the safety of learners, officials, staff members or spectators at school sporting events.

Regarding the Fairmont-The Settlers incident, she confirmed the disciplinary process has yet to be finalised and the department awaits the outcome of the hearing and investigation.

Hammond also stressed the department’s stance that school sport should model the values its participating schools seek to instil in learners, such as respect, discipline, sportsmanship and responsible citizenship.

“While schools implement measures to promote safe and positive sporting environments, all spectators share a responsibility to conduct themselves appropriately and to uphold these values during school fixtures,” Hammond said.

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