'Meaningful change': Rugby club to review culture after DJ incident
Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club is working with rugby unions to “develop a clear plan for meaningful change”, after concerns were raised on “harm towards women”.
It comes after a group of players allegedly accosted a female DJ at a local pub last weekend.
The club says it is aware of concerns raised extending beyond the incident, including of “harm towards women and the culture within our club”.
“We are working with Thames Valley Rugby Union, New Zealand Rugby and independent experts to consider the information raised and develop a clear plan for meaningful change,” a social media post read.
Auckland artist Molly Parker, whose stage name is HEXIIS, told the Herald up to 15 men dressed in Mercury Bay Rugby Club dress shirts repeatedly tried to climb on to the stage while she was performing about 12.30am last Sunday.
The club said it “took concerns about violence, harassment and the safety of people in the community seriously”.
“We understand the community wants answers. However, legal processes and privacy obligations limit what we can say at this time.
“We will provide a further update when we are able to do so.”
The 23-year-old said most of the other patrons were outside at the time, leaving her “surrounded by a bunch of grown men who weren’t listening when I was asking them to get away from me”.
The alleged assault happened at Monkey House Lounge and Cabaret in Whitianga.
“I was quite frankly terrified,” she said.
She said one became argumentative and aggressive when she asked him not to touch her DJ equipment.
“I’ve got gigs coming up ... and I honestly don’t even want to do them because I’m just so upset and shaken by this whole situation.”
Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club chairman Mike Skeen said he was aware of an incident at the Monkey House “involving a few members of our rugby club”.
“We understand that a complaint has been made to the police and we will fully support them in any investigation,” Skeen said in a statement.
Kaspur Franke from the Monkey House said several team members from the rugby club “behaved terribly”.
“We had to physically escort them out since they did not comply with us verbally asking them to leave.”
A fight involving some players also broke out outside the venue.
Police told the Herald that officers were called to the bar about 1.30am after reports of two men fighting, behaving aggressively and refusing to leave.
It appeared at least one other person had been assaulted by one or both of the men, they said.
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