Man cops life ban from SCG after 'deplorable' act at Wallabies game
A 31-year-old man has been charged by police and banned from the SCG for life after climbing onto the roof of the Bill O'Reilly Stand on Saturday night and appearing to urinate on spectators below.
Social media videos showed the man standing on the roof of the grandstand during the Wallabies' clash with England in the third Test.
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At one stage the man appeared to urinate off the edge onto unsuspecting fans below.
Security guards eventually brought the man down before he was arrested by police.
The 31-year-old was charged with “behaving in offensive manner in/near public place and climbing on buildings on scheduled lands without approval”.
He was granted conditional bail and will appear in court on July 25.
“About 9.20pm, Saturday 16 July, a man was at a sporting stadium at Moore Park when he allegedly climbed onto the top of a scoreboard within the stadium, and onto the roof of a spectator’s stand,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.
“Officers attached to Surry Hills Police Area Command and the Police Rescue attended and safely removed the man a short time later, before he was arrested.”
A man has gone to dangerous heights during a @wallabies game at the @scg. The 31-year-old was recorded standing on the roof of the Bill O'Reilly Stand with the stunt posted to the social media platform @tiktokaustralia. https://t.co/OF81oZFF1j #SCG #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/E3llAYXELb
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) July 17, 2022
Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos went a step further on Monday, slamming the patron's behaviour on a night when victorious England coach Eddie Jones was also called a "traitor" by a disgruntled Wallabies fan.
"Rugby Australia is disappointed with the reported incidents within the crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Third Test of the Wallabies' series with England," Marinos said.
"The deplorable actions of the alleged intruder that made his way to the roof of the grandstand were disgraceful and dangerous."
Situation at the SCG. Some bloke on top of the Bill O’Reilly stand.
Cops trying to talk him down.. #AUSvsENG pic.twitter.com/SSDZm5v6yx— Matt Vandenberg (@M1D3V) July 16, 2022
Eddie Jones in ugly altercation with Wallabies fan
Unfortunately it wasn't the only unsavoury incident involving a spectator on Saturday night after Jones was filmed in an angry exchange with a fan.
Footage posted to social media showed a man wearing a yellow cap with a beer in his hand sledging Jones, who coached the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005.
As his security detail tried to hold him back, Jones pushed past to charge at the man on the fenceline after being called a 'traitor' following England's 21-15 win.
"What did you say? What did you say," a furious Jones yelled.
"Come here and say it. Come here and say it. Come here and say it."
The fan appeared shocked by Jones' reaction and backed off.
The coach didn't mention the incident in his post-match press conference but following their Brisbane Test victory said he'd been taking great delight in shutting up the crowd.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan condemned the conduct of the supporter, while the Rugby Football Union has declined to comment at this stage.
"That fan's behaviour is totally unacceptable and is not welcome at a Wallabies Test if he carries on like that," McLennan was quoted as saying by Britain's PA News Agency.
"We should be acknowledging Eddie's achievements as a great Aussie export. There's too much tall poppy syndrome in that comment."
England captain Courtney Lawes had earlier said his team were motivated by "smack" comments made by a number of Australian players in the media in the lead-up to their SCG win.
"We saw plenty of stuff in the press about some of our players and what they were saying," Lawes said.
"Some people targeting Gengey, (prop Ellis Genge) some people calling us Poms and what not.
"It's all fuel for our tank. Any good team uses that as motivation I think."
Got what he deserved from Eddie pic.twitter.com/lUrtzrsB5h
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) July 17, 2022
with AAP
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