In one of the most shameful incidents to be seen on a rugby field in the history of South African sport, August 10, 2002, will always be rem...
In one of the most shameful incidents to be seen on a rugby field in the history of South African sport, August 10, 2002, will always be remembered as the day that a drunken Springboks fan attacked Irish referee Dave McHugh in Tri Nations meeting between the All Blacks and South Africa in Durban. Middle-aged Piet van Zyl, clad in jeans and a faded Springboks jersey straining to hold in its contents, attacked referee McHugh, wrestling him to the ground. He was quickly pulled off by the rescuing party of Richie McCaw and AJ Venter, who rushed to McHugh's aid, but not before the referee suffered a dislocated shoulder. He was carried off on a medical buggy, and an unrepentant van Zyl, nose bleeding after taking a few slaps from Venter and McCaw, was led away with a broken nose by police, to later face a lifetime ban from South African rugby grounds, as well as assault charges. An unrepentant Van Zyl later emphasised that he did not regret his actions. "Dont forget that the incident happened when the referee closed his one eye and ceased to see the Springboks. I am therefore not sorry that I did what I did. If he, the referee, didnt do what he did that incident would not have happened." Less
