Cape Town - Another Cape Town school rugby derby ended in violent scenes after a fist fight broke out between Milnerton and Melkbosstrand high schools, leading to concerns over poor sportsmanship.
The two teams clashed in a highly anticipated inter-school match on Saturday at the Melkbosstrand High grounds.
The incident is the latest in a violent trend at school sports events, following an altercation between under-19 rugby players from Bishops Diocesan College and the South African College High School (SACS) last week.
Every year, “Millies” and “Melkies” battle each other for bragging rights in various sporting codes. But following Melkbosstrand’s 12-0 victory over Milnerton in the under-16 rugby match at the weekend, a brawl broke out.
The fight, which was caught on camera, shows a Milnerton player walking up to an opposing member who was kneeling on the ground with another player.
The Millies player then shoves the boy from behind before throwing a few punches and kicking him in the head. This provokes other players to get involved and a massive fist fight breaks out on the field.
The video footage shared with the Cape Argus shows players pushing, grabbing and punching each other as spectators attempt to break up the scuffle.
A concerned parent, who was at the rugby match, said everything went south in a matter of seconds.
The parent said the incident was started by the Milnerton player.
“It was huge. A Milnerton High School boy just started a fight with a Melkbosstrand High boy. This happened so quickly. We were still watching the match and the next thing there was a fight. The field was packed,” the parent explained.
A witness said the video doing the rounds on social media showed only half of what happened on the field.
“The person who took this video didn’t take the whole fight. It was worse. Parents and coaches jumped in, and it was just hell,” she said.
Following the brawl, a selfie of one of the Melkies players who was hurt surfaced online with the message, “DW (Don’t Worry) guys, I’m alive.”
Paul Besener, headmaster of Milnerton High School, confirmed they were aware of the incident and that disciplinary hearings have been initiated. He described the fight as “disgusting behaviour that nobody wished for”.
“The outcomes we are busy with, there will be governing body hearings and all the rest of it,” he said.
Besener said he viewed the video and will be using it as evidence.
Melkbosstrand High School has yet to respond to requests for comment.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it has been made aware of the incident.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said a learner from Milnerton has since been identified.
She said the school has apologised on behalf of the learner and is dealing with the matter in terms of its disciplinary procedures.
“The incident only involved the two learners. It did not escalate further. There were no injuries reported,” she said.
In recent weeks, WCED had their hands full dealing with fighting incidents occurring at school sporting events.
After the derby match at Piley Rees Field in Rondebosch, videos of the altercation between players from Bishops Diocesan College and SACS surfaced online.
Bishops said an investigation into the offensive incidents that appeared on social media will be conducted.
Besener added that the traditions of the schools will supersede the incident, but it was unfortunate.
“These sought of disgusting bits of behaviour that happen all the time need to be dealt with properly, and we will do that,” Besener said.