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Praise for Glenwood's swift action against dirty play in rugby
Durban – Schoolboy rugby
administrators have praised Glenwood High School for the swift
action taken following the foul play incident in the schools first
team clash with Maritzburg College on the weekend, and reaffirmed
the stand against foul play in all school sport.
Glenwood High School hooker Senzo Mtshali was send off for punching
in the closing stages of Glenwood’s defeat at the hands of
Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
Mtshali came to school on Monday morning with formal letter of
apology to the entire school, and at a disciplinary hearing he was
suspended for the next two Glenwood matches, and will also serve
community service to the team for the duration of his suspension.
“As a school we do not and will not tolerate foul play,” said
Glenwood’s first team coach Sean Erasmus. “The boy concerned had
never been carded before, and it is very important that he and all
the other pupils learn a clear lesson from this incident.”
Glenwood High School is one of the schools participating in the
Discovery SharkSmart Schools of Excellence programme, which
includes a significant module promoting fair play at all levels of
schoolboy rugby.
“It is gratifying to see Glenwood High School acting quickly and
decisively to this incident,” said SharkSmart director Glen
Hagemann. “The school has a proud rugby tradition, and as a
SharkSmart School of Excellence member the school commits to biding
by the ethic of fair play at all levels.”
Hageman was quick to recognise that there were a number of factors
that were relevant to the incident, including the charged
atmosphere at Goldstones, in front of a big gathering of past
pupils who were celebrating Maritzburg College’s Old Boys Day.
“The level of passion and enthusiasm for schoolboy rugby is
immense, and is a real asset,” said Hagemann. “It is critical
therefore that this is moderated and kept under control, because if
it oversteps the boundaries, the actions of a small minority of
players or supporters can contribute to a negative atmosphere at
the match that conflicts with the core principle of fair play.”
The Discovery SharkSmart Schools of Excellence programme, of which
both Maritzburg College and Glenwood are participants, aims to
make participation in the sport of rugby safer
and more fun at all levels through the reduction of rugby-related
injuries by educating players, supporting parents, referees and
coaches.
The ethic of fair play is one of the core components of the Ten
Point Plan set out in the programme, calling on players, coaches,
administrators and supporters to help stamp out dirty play in
schoolboy rugby.
“Not all lines are there to be crossed,” said Hagemann. “One
of the great things rugby teaches people is discipline. It's one of
the qualities a coach can instill in players.”
“Fair play means maintaining your dignity whether or not you are
winning, respecting the opposition, the officials and the rules,
staying calm no matter what happens and realising that the referee
is in charge at all times,” he added.
More information about the Discovery SharkSmart Schools of
Excellence programme can be found at
www.sharksmart.co.za
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