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As if rugby is not violent enough, a social media video has been circulating that shows a huge fight between two school teams during the recent Graeme Festival in Grahamstown.

What makes it even more embarrassing for both schools is the parents joining in with the boys, with a dad seen throwing slaps at a kid while Kingswood College and Marlow Landbouskool moered each other along the sidelines.

According to a statement by Kingswood College in the Eastern Cape, the brawl broke out after the conclusion of their 1st XV rugby fixture against Marlow Landbouskool.

In the video, several students can be seen going at each other as adults also start piling in on the commotion, with one of them even attempting to slap a learner.

Horrible scenes at the end of the Kingswood College vs Marlow game at the Graeme Festival today. pic.twitter.com/93K8x8tBu9

— Adrian Slabbert (@adrian_slabbert) March 15, 2024

Following the fracas, Kingswood College released a statement:

“Firstly, as we all know, sport plays a vital role in teaching our children valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, respect, and perseverance. Learning these skills is the true value of sport rather than a team’s win/loss ratio and Kingswood does not subscribe to a ‘win at all costs’ ethos.”

“Sport has become such an emotive space for children, coaches and parents that we sometimes forget that the true purpose of sport at school is to build young men and women of character. We acknowledge that our learners will sometimes make mistakes in terms of their behaviour and when this happens the appropriate sanctions will be applied.”

“Secondly, the conduct of those on the sidelines is equally instrumental in shaping the attitudes and behaviours of our young athletes. At this particular game, the behaviour of some adults, not associated with Kingswood, on the side of the field was completely unacceptable and took the focus off the positives of the game. We are privileged to have a community of parents, guardians, and OK’s who are supportive and enthusiastic. It is essential to remember that our actions during games can have a profound impact on our children.”

The kids probably watch too much UFC and Parliamentary debates, but it seems like quite a few parents need a time-out as well.

[source:jacarandafm]