Suspension for some rugby club members

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 2

Suspension for some rugby club members

PA Auckland The East Coast Bays Rugby Club has suspended some of its members alleged to have caused damage costing several thousand dollars to a Bay of Islands motex at the week-en<X

The suspensions, until further notice, came after a club inquiry into the incident which led to Bay of Islands motel owners banning future rugby club bookings. The secretary of the club, Mr Craig Ganley, said yesterday that 17 young men appeared before the club’s committee.

After listening to their versions of events at the Paihia Motel, “between six and 10,” of them were suspended for an indefinite period. Mr Ganley declined to say how many had been suspended.

He said that the men, 15 from one team and two from another, were not on a club trip.. The men had not gone away to play rugby but to drink. Several members of the club had admitted that they had been involved in “a bit of boisterous behaviour.”

Mr Ganley said the suspensions had been made because the members, although not officially representing the club, had brought its name into disrepute. The police are also investigating the incident.