Referee cancels derby match following mass brawl
A rugby referee has been forced to abandon a derby game tonight after a mass brawl broke out between players from two British universities, reports BritPanorama.
Swansea University hosted rivals Cardiff at Dunvant RFC as both sides looked to secure key points to stay in the Bucs Super Rugby league. Cardiff led Swansea 28-19 with just minutes left on the clock, with the away side having run in four tries before the 78th minute.
However, tensions flared over a high tackle, leading to an altercation near the touchline which ignited a 30-man brawl. Fans reportedly hurled pints of beer over players as they tussled near the hoardings.
Welsh referee Adam Jones blew his whistle eighteen times as players surged to join the fracas. After failing to regain control, Mr Jones declared: “Okay, that’s enough, boys. This game is abandoned. Boys, take your players away. He needs to leave the field.”
In a follow-up statement, he described the players’ conduct as “completely unacceptable”. The decision on whether Cardiff will be awarded the five points they were poised to gain rests with the league’s organisers. More than 1,000 fans had attended the South Wales Derby, only for the match to end in chaos.
Cardiff University’s head coach Chris Davies expressed disappointment at how the game concluded, while Tomi Booth, named player of the match, remarked, “It’s a stupid way to finish the game, but it’s five points on the board.” The match’s abandonment poses significant implications for Swansea, who were already facing the threat of relegation, trailing Cardiff by four points going into the fixture.
Despite the confusion surrounding the outcome, Cardiff’s post-match reactions indicated they anticipate being awarded the victory. The tussle came after a strong performance from both teams, but it ultimately shifted focus from the competitive spirit of the match to the troubling incident that unfolded.
In the end, it’s a stark reminder of how quickly passion can spill over into aggression in sport, serving as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the unpredictable nature of rivalry in rugby.
