Unbeaten Kaikohe removed from Northland prem competition due to “repeated and serious” breaches of the union’s code of conduct
-
What's going on here, lots of people staying mum.
Rugby team livid after being kicked out of club competition, union stands by decision
An unbeaten women’s rugby team livid with their removal from Northland’s premier club competition claim they haven’t been treated fairly, in an expulsion which has shocked the region’s rugby community.
But Northland Rugby is standing by its decision to remove Kaikohe’s senior women’s team before the finals.
Kaikohe finished top of the standings with a points difference of +342 after six wins from six matches and were the favourites for the title, but were kicked out of the seven-team competition just three days before last Sunday’s semifinals.
Northland Rugby chief executive Cameron Bell told Stuff that decision “wasn’t taken lightly” but was made because of alleged “repeated and serious” breaches of the union’s code of conduct.
However, Arohanui Allen, a Kaikohe player who represented Northland in last year’s Farah Palmer Cup, said her team were not given a chance to hear about their alleged breaches before they were booted out.
“We have the right to an equitable process that allows us the opportunity to respond,” Allen said.
“We were seeking our finals place back, but that's not happening. What we are seeking is a right to be heard and to have natural justice.”
Do you know more? Email reporter Joseph Pearson at joseph.pearson@stuff.co.nz
Allen said she filed an interim injunction with a High Court judge against the team’s removal which was unsuccessful, although she is looking at other options.
She said the judge said she couldn’t prove natural justice had not taken place and, as a player, she was not privy to formal communications between the club and the union.
Senior club officials have declined to comment but said they are talking with the union and the team to work towards a positive resolution.
It’s not clear if the club has the same stance as its women’s team on their expulsion.
Bell wouldn’t give specific details of the team’s alleged misconduct but said there were a “combination of breaches” in incidents on and off the field, including online bullying.
“We couldn't stand for any of those,” Bell told Stuff.
Northland Rugby chief executive Cameron Bell said removing the Kaikohe team from the premier women’s competition was the last resort (FILE PHOTO).
DAVE ROWLAND/GETTY IMAGES
Northland Rugby chief executive Cameron Bell said removing the Kaikohe team from the premier women’s competition was the last resort (FILE PHOTO).
Bell said the union worked with the club’s committee for six weeks in an attempt to resolve “ongoing issues”.“We tried to get a resolution, we exhausted our options, and we had to do something,” he said.
Stuff understands complaints were made against Kaikohe from clubs and individuals.
One incident involved ex-Black Fern Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, a Rugby World Cup winner in 2017, who played for Kaikohe this season.
She accepted a three-week ban at the judiciary, including up to the weekend of the semifinals, after an incident in Kaikohe’s 46-10 win over Old Boys Marist on May 19.
State of the Union: Episode Two
Play Video
STUFF
The popularised origin story of women’s rugby is it kicked off in the early 90s. The truth is, women have been trying to play rugby for about as long as men have.
Through a family spokesperson, Subritzky-Nafatali declined to comment.Stuff understands another player was cited for striking in their last match, a 68-7 win over Moerewa on May 28, and that incident was still being processed at the judiciary.
Allen acknowledged those two incidents but said they were not issued any red cards in their six matches.
“There’s been no evidence put to us on what other things we've done to breach the code of conduct,” she said.
“There's a negative narrative perpetuated about our team. It's not dissimilar to the narrative perpetuated about Kaikohe.”
Arohanui Allen, pictured playing last year for Northland in the Farah Palmer Cup, has been representing the Kaikohe women’s team (FILE PHOTO).
JOE ALLISON/GETTY IMAGESArohanui Allen, pictured playing last year for Northland in the Farah Palmer Cup, has been representing the Kaikohe women’s team (FILE PHOTO).
Officials from other clubs in the competition have declined to comment or referred questions to Northland Rugby.Kaikohe’s removal was confirmed last Thursday at a Northland Rugby meeting, three days before they were due to play Old Boys Marist in last Sunday’s semifinal.
Bell met with the club’s committee the previous Friday, including club president Wally Harris, and alternatives were discussed.
However, in a heated meeting last Tuesday night at the Kaikohe Rugby Club, attended by union officials, the whole team and the club’s committee, Allen said the players were told they would be kicked out of this season’s competition.
Allen felt that decision was predetermined and said the process wasn’t fair.
“What our team would like is to be part of the review,” she said.
“We don’t want our children to go through what we've gone through. We want to see an improvement in the process.”
Bell said he was only made aware of last Tuesday’s meeting that morning and couldn’t attend because of other commitments.
“In hindsight, they could have been dropped,” Bell said.
“The understanding of that meeting was that it wasn't going to be a full team meeting. It was just going to be with management.”
Bell said they want to welcome the team back next season and was happy with the union’s communications with the club.
“I have the highest respect, as does Northland Rugby, for the work that Wally Harris and his committee team do,” he added.
“There is no lingering ill-will. We haven't had any issues with the club until this year. And it is just one team.
“They were the best team, which has nothing to do with this, and it’s a shame because innocent people have been caught up.”
-
-
The club is full of crap. Some of the incidents of 'foul play' are just straight out violence and have been referred to the police is my understanding. The club should make these players stand up and take responsibility for their actions not cry foul for being held to account
-
@Bones said in Unbeaten Kaikohe removed from Northland prem competition due to “repeated and serious” breaches of the union’s code of conduct:
@Canerbry I'm intrigued, how does a player get cited for striking in a club match, without actually receiving a red card?
Is it being implied the refs are intimidated?
Many unions have a process whereby you can cite incidents from other clubs or individuals, provided you supply statutory declaration(s), video evidence etc.
-
The 2 major changes in this club team is the coach who has bounced around 3 or 4 different teams which should have been a red flag from day dot and former RWC winning Black Fern who is nothing but septic
She’s had 2 drunk driving convictions since 2020 and all she’s bought into this team is bad behaviour and poor ethics
The coach seems to be accepting of this behaviour which includes chasing an opposing spectator through a car park for a fight post game and getting into verbal arguments with spectators during games as well as skulling a beer that’s been passed to her by her coach when tries are scored her behaviour was witnessed in front of a major sponsor and his 2 young daughters , all of this has been videoed
This is supposed to be Premier Womens Rugby not a social rugby
There’s been close to 20 complaints to the union regarding behaviour of certain individuals in this team not to mention letters condemning player behaviour written in from their own supportersUnfortunately the skipper who is also Northland Kauri player has allowed herself to think this is some sort of racism to why they have been kicked out
Also because people were jealous that they were clocking up such an excellent record
She sought a high court injunction to have the Unions decision to kick them out of the comp overturned , the high court judge took a whole 5 minutes after viewing all the evidence to find in favour of the Union , What does that tell you
Personally I hope she never gets selected for the Kauri again especially after running off to the media when she didn’t get her way
So to wrap things up this is not an over the top decision from the Northland Union
It’s around discipline nothing else , people in Kaikohe are saying to ban the whole team is harsh but at the end of the day this is a team game , they should all wear the cost
For me the coach and the management dictate the etiquette and behaviour on and off the field and on that note he’s failed this team badly
Crazy thing is he’s from the Otiria club and is on their committee he had a women’s team there which he could have coached but decided to seek glory coaching a club team that has 8 Kauri playersThe former Black Fern has signed with Counties Manukau , she’s actually a talented player but for me has some serious baggage
If Northland were to release their findings not to mention the odd video it would be even more embarrassing for the club and it’s supporters,
Despite people who don’t know any better saying that all the Kauri players in the team should step away from the rep team to show unity to the club , 6 players turned up to Northland fitness training on Wednesday night except one player which wasn’t a surprise
-
@Chiefy07 the racist card that’s been played against the union is load of crap ,70% of the employees at the union are Māori and Polynesian 🤦🏻♂️
Unfortunately this opens that narrative door that gets played all too often
My father who sat on the taumata Whaikōrero at our marae when he was alive said in the future the only people who will hold Māori back moving forward is Māori -
@Steven-Harris it's all part of the club not wanting to take responsibility for their club members actions. Subritzky-Nafatali shouldn't be allowed to play FPC for anyone
-
@Chiefy07 said in Unbeaten Kaikohe removed from Northland prem competition due to “repeated and serious” breaches of the union’s code of conduct:
@Steven-Harris it's all part of the club not wanting to take responsibility for their club members actions. Subritzky-Nafatali shouldn't be allowed to play FPC for anyone
I'd be surprised if CM still want her going by the comments here. They have put a lot into the culture of the teams.
