Corey Kennett: Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Union CEO says abuse against refs is a 'nationwide epidemic'

Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby is cracking down on abuse against referees - which in recent months has included one ref threatened with stabbing. 

The union says if there are further examples of extreme abuse, it will cancel all fixtures the following weekend as a consequence. 

The union's CEO Corey Kennett joined Nick Mills to discuss the issue. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks'd be.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Joining us now is Corey Connett. Corey is the CEO
of the horfor Capiti Rugby Football Union.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
Morning Corey, Morning, they kill you?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good take you?

Speaker 1 (00:22):
How bad is it?

Speaker 3 (00:26):
Looks it's a nationwide epidemic and it's bad. It's really bad.
You know, You've got situations where these hard serving volunteers
have given up their time, their time away from their FARO,
taking days off work to provide a service to the community,
and they're just not getting the respect they deserve.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Now, your press release said that someone was threatened to
be stabbed. Is that this year?

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Is that current that was two weeks ago? Yeah, yep. Look,
we've had some shockers, and there's obviously been some shockers
up and down the country. You just got to wonder
what sort of go what goes through these people's minds
that they feel that they're justified to come along to
a community event and spill out that sort of disgusting vitriol.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Right, Yeah, I just ask you, Corey, if this is
are you talking to other rugby unions around the country?
Is it right around the country or is it you've
copped it in horror for company.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
More absolutely talking everyone insured. Maybe Union have been fantastic,
they help with support and guidance. This happens sadly, it's
a nationwide epidemic and so now we're in communication with
all of the provincial unions as well, and so look,
it's it's certainly not isolated to Hoto Company. Of course,

(01:52):
ours has become greater focus because we've we've decided to
make a stand and that was with the support of
the whole rugby community one hundred percent unanimous support and
collaborate approach along with the Hotopher Company with Referees Association
that we just got to do something for us. We
live by demantra that the standard you walk by is

(02:14):
the standard you accept, and we're just not going to
accept us.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Corey, I'm a bit concerned of one thing. Now. I
love a good boo, right, I love a good boo
And if makes a care that I don't like, is
it okay for me on the sideline of a senior
premiere rugby game to boot?

Speaker 3 (02:36):
You know what, I deal with these guys and girls
on the daily, and they understand that they're not precious
They're not French oil. They're not going to get angry
around somebody booing or somebody saying come on red or whatever.
That low level stuff is. What they're talking about is
individualized abusive comments, threatened to harm their safety, threatened to

(03:03):
harm them people saying things like you know, good luck
getting home and you know, just absolute GUSA crap like that.
That's a million miles away from a boot. So you know,
you just got to ask yourself once again, how these
people feel they have their justification to take it to
that level and put a black mark on on our

(03:23):
great game and what our great game stands for.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
You know, Corey, I've only met you for three minutes
on the phone, but you sound like a no fuss,
no bother, staunch sort of a guy. So is this
an idol threat or will you actually come down and
say that's no Rugby next weekend?

Speaker 3 (03:39):
Oh no, no, you know, we talked about it. We've
gone through all of the outcomes with our board, our
Rugby Committee, all our member clubs and all our affiliate associations,
and now we're prepared to pull the trigger and more.
You know, we get the identifications of perpetraders, they're going
to be trespassed. We don't want them in their game.
In the game, it's pretty simple. They are not welcome them,

(04:03):
is not out for them. We don't want them in
rugby around rugby are in in our community.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Sport or any sport.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
Really, isn't it exactly right? And then we are we
are far from the worst.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yes, no question. The closer that the spectator is to
the to the action, the worst it's going to be.
So what is what a Wellington Rugby union saying? Are
they saying they get doing the copying the same their
rest are copying the same situation and will they follow suit?

Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yes? Yes, the all of the peus are doing similar initiatives,
all doing great work around trying to help the referees
and and the volunteers to avoid experiencing this. So you
know to what individual actions are provincially are doing it.
It's up to them, but they're certainly all all operating

(04:55):
under the same Copepper, Good on.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
You, congratulations for making a stand and doing something about
it because nobody and you know what the other thing
is that I don't like if I'm standing actually watching
a game. There was a guy called Budge around Wellington
for forty years. Used to be at some Pats games
all the time. Used to be abusive on the sideline,
worse than me even, and I didn't like actually standing

(05:19):
next to people yelling and screaming. Either it's not good.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
Is it?

Speaker 3 (05:23):
No, it's not you know, and it just ruins the
speak to call for everyone. But do you know if
it just for your listeners, you're out at community sport
this weekend or this week just take the time to
appreciate the hardworking volunteers that are given up their time,
you know, give them some positive feedback, tell them that
you've got their back and that you support them one
hundred percent.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Corey, great to talk to you, hope to talk again,
Corey Kennett. There is a CEO of horrorf and he
a Capiti Rugby Football Union and they are saying any
more abuse to referees or rugby canceled for a weekend, done,
no more out stop finish.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
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