Despite the Springboks’ comprehensive 43-12 Rugby Championship victory over the Wallabies at Loftus on Saturday, a fight broke out in the stands between a number of fans, with the altercations going on for an extended period of time as many people became involved.
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The video clip below posted on social media – and said to be from Saturday’s Test – shows fans shoving each other and throwing punches.
The incident also led to one fan stating he would not return to a game at Loftus, having questioned the lack of security and what it would have been like for someone to have young children witness this sort of thing.
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You can see his posts on the Loftus fight below:
But the fights in the stands were insane! These white boys become something else when they have alcohol in them. I will never attend another Rugby match at Loftus SAvsAus. Great game tho ! pic.twitter.com/ptRlaj51Ep
— Chelsea FC South Africa
Dave (@DavGate) July 9, 2023
What a performance by the @Springboks however I’ll never attend another Rugby game in my life. Some oaks get a sniff of alcohol and they become prime Mike Tyson. They like to say we bad but what I witnessed today
! Apologies to all the kids that were present. @News24 #loftus pic.twitter.com/OdpQIxf3jA
— Chelsea FC South Africa
Even uncle got some at one stage it was madness at #loftus #springboks #DricusDuPlessis I’m traumatised guys no way
pic.twitter.com/lKtb7JFkIt
— Chelsea FC South Africa
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What was the response?
The Blue Bulls Company (BBCo) ultimately apologised for what they described as an “isolated altercation”.
“Whilst we had hoped for there to be zero altercations on the day, we, unfortunately, did receive one or two minor reports of disturbances emanating from physical altercations but none of those resulted in injuries or hospitalisation,” Hugo Kemp, the BBCo operations manager, told News24 in a statement.
“As hard as we try to create a safe and family-friendly viewing environment, we also rely – heavily – on our patrons to maintain good and orderly behaviour. We take these lessons and we will use them for the staging of our next event.
“We want to apologise to anyone who may have been offended or inconvenienced by these altercations and vow to continue to make concerted efforts in eliminating incidences like these and truly make Loftus a place for family fun.”
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Meanwhile, the Springboks left for New Zealand on Sunday where they will prepare this week for their second Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at the Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday, 15 July.
Kick-off is that clash is at 09:05 (SA time).
The All Blacks beat Argentina 41-12 in their tournament opener in Mendoza this weekend.
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