AUSTRALIAN RUGBY CHIEFS 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.
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Fan should be banned for life
@Rudiger McMonihan: Absolutely right. “Ejecting” the “fan” after the game is over doesn’t even amount to a slap on the wrist.
Players are human. This incident was outrageous.
Punishment or not that fan needs to have a long harsh word with himself.
@Gustave H: maybe inconsonant. Would that be long enough?
@Ruairi O’Bric: “cacophonous” would probably be the longest harsh word I know.
@Gustave H: Insubordination
I might be wrong but I believe said fan was roughed up by a Pacific Island looking guy. Not sure where I heard that though.
Should watch the video, said ‘fan’ immediately got tossed around like a rag doll afterward by some massive Pacific Islander looking guy. Aussies…. what more would you expect though?
@mitchellaneou5: You can say that again
Should watch the video, said ‘fan’ immediately got tossed around like a rag doll after the spat by some massive Pacific Islander looking guy. Aussies…. what more would you expect though?
Watch the video, said ‘fan’ immediately gets thrown around afterward by some islander looking guy….. what more would you expect of the Ausssies though?
Watch the video, afterwards, said ‘fan’ immediately gets thrown around by some islander guy.
Watch the video, afterwards, said ‘fan’ immediately gets severely pushed around by some massive islander guy.
Watch the video, said ‘fan’ immediately gets thrown around after by some islander guy….. what more would you expect of Australians though?
Watch the video, afterwards, said ‘fan’ immediately gets thrown around by some islander guy….. what more would you expect of Australians though?