Eastern Suburbs Cleared of Breach but Instructed to Educate and Supervise Fans Following Racial Abuse Allegations

Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club has been cleared of a breach of the Rugby Australia code of conduct following allegations of racial abuse towards West Harbour players during a trial match. The Sydney Rugby Union held a code of conduct committee hearing to investigate the claims, which included allegations of racial abuse and threatening behavior from members of the Easts crowd.

Despite five witness statements from Wests players detailing the abuse they experienced, Easts denied that any of their supporters were responsible for the racial comments. The club submitted 11 statements from individuals in the area where the abuse allegedly originated, refuting the claims made against their fans.

After a lengthy hearing, the code of conduct committee determined that racial abuse had indeed occurred, but there was insufficient evidence to prove that it came from Easts supporters as alleged. As a result, the breach was not proven, and the club was cleared of any wrongdoing.

However, the committee did acknowledge the need for further measures to address the issue, including educating players and supervising spectators to prevent similar incidents in the future. While no sanctions were imposed on Eastern Suburbs, the club has been instructed to take proactive steps to ensure that such behavior does not occur again.

In a statement released by the SRU, general manager Peter Watkins emphasized the importance of upholding the values of respect and sportsmanship in rugby. The committee’s decision serves as a reminder of the responsibility that clubs have in promoting a safe and inclusive environment for all participants in the sport.