Reports of second assault by adult official on underage rugby player
A spokesman for Bruff RFC yesterday said he could not confirm if a second under 15 player was injured in an alleged assault by an adult who accompanied the opposing Shannon RFC team at a game in Bruff which had to be called off by the referee.
Gardaí in Bruff have confirmed they are investigating a complaint of an assault on a boy by an adult.
Bruff RFC last night held a special meeting to decide what formal action it will take. Club spokesman Richard Leonard said a strict code of procedures had to be activated.
Mr Leonard said while he could not confirm a second assault complaint had been made by one of their underage players, two players and their parents were advised to get medical advice after the alleged incident.
“We had to follow and comply with child safety which involved contacting the gardaí and the HSE. Our own club child protection officer was called in. The guidelines were followed to the letter.”
Shannon PRO Andrew McNamara said they were awaiting the referee’s report. “The information we have at the moment is that a Shannon player was kicked on the ground and was subsequently surrounded by a number of Bruff players.
“The Shannon coach, who happened to be the player’s father, was in close proximity to the incident and entered the field to protect his son. Subsequently we were led to believe that some people, not associated with Shannon, encroached onto the pitch. The coach categorically denied assaulting anyone,” he said.
After a recent incident involving senior club members and a referee the club was fined €25,000 by the IRFU and warned that its senior side would incur an immediate six-point deduction in the AIB League, ‘in the event of there being a finding of misconduct against Shannon RFC on or before May 31, 2010”.
