Earl, Schuster ‘in punch-up’

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 40

Earl, Schuster ‘in punch-up’

N7PA London A British newspaper yesterday named the two All Blacks at the centre“of a punch-up incident with Welsh rugby fans as Andy Earl and John Schuster. But there was no confirmation they were the players involved and the All Black team management refused to give any names. One Press Association source doubted that Schuster at least, was involved in the fracas. The “Daily Express,” in a story headlined “All Blacks and Blue” said the utility forward Earl went to the rescue of his team-mate when he was attacked by three brothers named Evans late at night after Sunday’s victory over Llanelli The paper said that the brothers ‘ who tried to level the score” swiftly became.“ Evans horizontal* as Schuster and the big Canterbury man waded in. . One Welshman was left with a suspected jaw fracture and the others had cuts and bruises, the “Daily Express” said. The paper quoted the New Zealand team manager, John Sturgeon, as saying his players acted in self-defence. An ambulance spokesman explained: “We thought it was just a scuffle between fans and didn’t realise at first that All Blacks had been involved.” A statement read out by a Llanelli solicitor, Mark Jenkins, on the management’s behalf at a news conference said the police were “quite satisfied that the actions of the players concerned were entirely consistent with them merely acting in self-defence.” . . No complaints were laid and no further action was being taken. '