Latest news with #HKRFU
1News
26-06-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Rugby union postpones all club games after referee abuse
Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) is postponing all club games this weekend due to ongoing referees abuse, according to social media post. It said on June 21 a referee officiating a college rugby match between its college team and a visiting school side "was subjected to serious verbal abuse and physical intimidation. Abuse was directed at the referee throughout the match by multiple visiting individuals, culminating in a situation so concerning that members of the public felt compelled to escort the referee to his vehicle following the game, for his safety". "Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Football Union is appalled by this behaviour and stands with our match officials. This conduct has no place in our game, at any level and will not be tolerated." The union issued a warning at the end of May that they would consider cancelling games after it said a referee was threatened with being stabbed. That statement, it said, made clear that the safety and respect of referees was non-negotiable. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Iran strikes report, stranded travellers land safely, rough weather coming, Bezos' wedding under fire, Kiwi basketballer joins LA Lakers. (Source: 1News) In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the union said all rugby across the union on June 28 would be postponed, including junior, college-grade and senior matches. "This will provide time to reflect and consider what kind of rugby environment we are creating and enabling. We must take collective responsibility to protect our referees, uphold the mana of our game, and ensure that rugby remains a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. "The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Stand up and show your support for our Match Officials," chief executive Corey Kennett said. In late May Kennett had said referees were being physically threatened, some faced physical abuse and a referee had been struck with a piece of field equipment, and one referee being threatened to be stabbed. The union Board was united in its condemnation of this behaviour, chairperson John Cribb said in the Wednesday night post. "It is unacceptable and not what we expect from anyone involved in rugby. Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or supporter, you have a responsibility to uphold the values of our game. Referee abuse undermines everything we stand for and will not be tolerated. We expect better, and our referees deserve better." ADVERTISEMENT
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Rugby condemns referee abuse after provincial union postpones games
Photo: Unsplash / Davide Buttani New Zealand Rugby has condemned the abuse of referees after a provincial union cancelled all this weekend's games following another incident. Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) is postponing all club and college games after a referee officiating a college match between its college team and a visiting school side last weekend "was subjected to serious verbal abuse and physical intimidation". The union said the abuse was directed at the referee throughout the match by multiple visiting individuals, with the abuse so severe members of the public felt compelled to escort the referee to his vehicle following the game for his safety. "Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Football Union is appalled by this behaviour and stands with our match officials. This conduct has no place in our game, at any level and will not be tolerated." New Zealand Rugby's general manager community rugby, Steve Lancaster, said the governing body supported the HKRFU's decision. "New Zealand Rugby is deeply disappointed that the actions of a few individuals have resulted in the cancellation of this weekend's matches in Horowhenua-Kāpiti," Lancaster said in a statement given to RNZ. "We fully support the decision made by the Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Football Union and commend their commitment to upholding the values of our game. "Physical and verbal abuse has no place in our communities - whether at work, in study, or other activities - and rugby is no exception. There is no room for the physical or verbal abuse of volunteers in our sport. Rugby is built on respect, and we must all play our part in protecting and promoting that principle. "We continue to work closely with our provincial unions to monitor and address instances of abuse, and we are committed to providing support to those affected." HKFRU issued a warning at the end of May that it would consider cancelling games after it said a referee was threatened with being stabbed . That statement, it said, made clear that the safety and respect of referees was non-negotiable. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the union said all rugby across the union on 28 June would be postponed, including junior, college-grade and senior matches. "This will provide time to reflect and consider what kind of rugby environment we are creating and enabling. We must take collective responsibility to protect our referees, uphold the mana of our game, and ensure that rugby remains a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. "The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Stand up and show your support for our Match Officials," chief executive Corey Kennett said. In late May Kennett had said referees were being physically threatened, some faced physical abuse and a referee had been struck with a piece of field equipment, and one referee had been threatened with being stabbed. The union board was united in its condemnation of this behaviour, chairperson John Cribb said in the Wednesday night post. "It is unacceptable and not what we expect from anyone involved in rugby. Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or supporter, you have a responsibility to uphold the values of our game. Referee abuse undermines everything we stand for and will not be tolerated. We expect better, and our referees deserve better."
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Rugby union postpones all club games this weekend after fresh referee abuse
Photo: Unsplash / Davide Buttani Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) is postponing all club games this weekend due to ongoing referees abuse, according to social media post. It said on 21 June a referee officiating a college rugby match between its college team and a visiting school side "was subjected to serious verbal abuse and physical intimidation. Abuse was directed at the referee throughout the match by multiple visiting individuals, culminating in a situation so concerning that members of the public felt compelled to escort the referee to his vehicle following the game, for his safety". "Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Football Union is appalled by this behaviour and stands with our match officials. This conduct has no place in our game, at any level and will not be tolerated." The union issued a warning at the end of May that they would consider cancelling games after it said a referee was threatened with being stabbed . That statement, it said, made clear that the safety and respect of referees was non-negotiable. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the union said all rugby across the union on 28 June would be postponed, including junior, college-grade and senior matches. "This will provide time to reflect and consider what kind of rugby environment we are creating and enabling. We must take collective responsibility to protect our referees, uphold the mana of our game, and ensure that rugby remains a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. "The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Stand up and show your support for our Match Officials," chief executive Corey Kennett said. In late May Kennett had said referees were being physically threatened, some faced physical abuse and a referee had been struck with a piece of field equipment, and one referee being threatened to be stabbed. The union Board was united in its condemnation of this behaviour, chairperson John Cribb said in the Wednesday night post. "It is unacceptable and not what we expect from anyone involved in rugby. Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or supporter, you have a responsibility to uphold the values of our game. Referee abuse undermines everything we stand for and will not be tolerated. We expect better, and our referees deserve better." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Rugby union considers match cancellations after referee stabbing threat
File photo. Photo: Unsplash / Davide Buttani The Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) is considering cancelling games after a referee was threatened with being stabbed. The union posted on social media that it was "deeply concerned about the escalating abuse directed at our referees, including recent incidents of verbal threats, threats of physical harm, including being stabbed, and actual physical abuse." It said it had been decided that if there are were further instances of serious referee abuse, all senior club rugby across the region would be cancelled for one full weekend. A Thames Valley v Horowhenua-Kāpiti match in 2022. File photo Photo: © Jason Bartley 2022 © Photosport Ltd 2022 / HKRFU said the problem had reached a tipping point, and the "safety and well-being of our match officials must take absolute priority". "This is not a decision we take lightly, but it is a necessary step to send a clear and unequivocal message, abuse will not be tolerated." If cancelled, those games would be rescheduled for later in the season. HKRFU chief executive Corey Kennett said the behaviour was "completely unacceptable" and "in direct opposition to the values of respect, safety, and integrity that underpin our great game". He said the problem had been building. "You've got to paint the landscape and this is not one weekend's activity. This is a culmination of the degradation of respect for match officials over a period of time," Kennett said. "What it culminated in is referees being physically threatened, some physical abuse with a referee being struck with a piece of field equipment, and then one referee being threatened to be stabbed. "We're just not going to walk past it. For us, the standard you walk past is the standard you accept, and so we're just not going to accept that." Kennett said HKFRU are investigating the two incidents, both of which were at senior games, and the police are involved. He's confident those responsible will be found. "We've got ongoing investigations so I can't comment on exact detail, but we have a pretty good hit record on identification," Kennett said. "Rugby's a pretty small and committed community, so it's rare for someone to be unidentified. "When we do (identify them) we prosecute them to the full extent of what we can and we always see a fantastic response from member clubs in particular who support that wholeheartedly." Horowhenua Kāpiti celebrate. Lochore Cup Final. 2018. Photo: John Cowpland/Photosport Ltd 2018 Kennett said the problem isn't confined to Horowhenua-Kāpiti. "Absolutely. It's a country wide epidemic. In fact if we were to have a table of the worst cases of abuse, we're (HKRFU) far from the worst. "But it doesn't stop the effect of what is happening. These volunteers that go out every week and enable the game to happen. They don't go along to watch. They don't go along to sit down and take it easy. They make the game happen. "This game does not happen without them. They will leave their home, their family. They will take time off work. We're always short of referees and we will have them officiating in two to three games per day and sad fact is they could be abused at all three to various levels of abuse. "We just need people to really have a look in the mirror and some of them need to give themselves an uppercut, but some of them need to think about what would you do if that's your family member, your husband, your wife, your son, your daughter. You know, what would you do? Are you going to walk past that standard or are you going to stand up and do something and that's what we need." Kennett said referees are essential volunteers to the sport and deserve to officiate without fear of abuse or intimidation. He said the abuse was disappointing but the response from clubs and others in the province had been heartwarming. "We've had the whole of the rugby community agreed to this 100% unanimously, that we had to do something. "The Rugby Referees Association have been incredibly thankful for the support and they've been involved in the process the whole way. "What we're hoping is that we can get a combined approach and try and get this under control." The Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Referees Association said in a statement that it backed the union's decision to draw a line in the sand. "We are thank full for the support we have received from the whole Rugby Community to address abuse. "We very much appreciated being involved in the process and support fully the stance taken by the Horowhenua Kāpiti Rugby Union."
