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No action from Rugby Australia over Tui fan incident
SYDNEY, Sept 17, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australian rugby chiefs Monday vowed to
review security but opted to take no further action after flanker Lukhan Tui
was involved in an ugly spat with a fan in the aftermath of their loss to
Argentina.
The two men had to be dragged apart as tensions boiled over following the
Wallabies’ shock four-point loss on the Gold Coast on Saturday — their first
home defeat to the Pumas in 35 years.
Rugby Australia said the spectator managed to get into seating reserved for
players’ families and was using abusive language and arguing at the end of
the game.
Tui reacted after his younger sister was pushed by the man, with the
incident rounding off a tough week for the 21-year-old, whose stepfather died
suddenly on Wednesday.
Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said the scuffle was “not
something you want to see at any sporting event”.
“Emotions were running high after the match on Saturday night and I
understand why Wallabies fans are frustrated after a result like that,” she
added.
“One of Lukhan’s young family members was physically caught up in this
exchange and this prompted the reaction from Lukhan.
“Wallabies team management have been in dialogue with Lukhan since the
incident and he has indicated that he does not wish to pursue the matter any
further and therefore no further action will be taken by Rugby Australia.”
While Tui and the spectator — who was detained and ejected from the ground
— escaped punishment, Castle said security would be reviewed.
But she stressed that interaction between fans and players remained an
important part of the game.
“We feel that this is an isolated incident and we haven’t experienced
anything like this in our game in the past, so we don’t want to race into any
hasty measures,” said Castle.
Tui told his fellow Wallabies after the match that he needed time away from
the game, and coach Michael Cheika on Sunday said it was unlikely he will
play in their next two fixtures, away to South Africa and Argentina.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1440 hrs