Rugby fans have been left shaking their heads in response to a medic’s classless act of unsportsmanship on the sideline of a game in Australia this week.
Samoa’s win over Tonga in Round 2 of the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship was overshadowed by a case of apparent sabotage at Sunnybank Rugby Club in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Cassie Siataga, Samoa’s fly-half, was lining up her conversion attempt on the sideline and was about to start her approach when a medic walked right between her and the kicking tee.
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She looked annoyed and shook her head, but composed herself to nail the conversion from a tight angle to extend her side’s lead to 14-0.
Rugby writer Jamie Wall shared vision of the moment and wrote on X: “This is pathetic from this bloke. Medics should be required to sit down and shut up until they’re needed…great kick though.”
Commentary on that video explained: “Siataga going for that conversion and one of the medics for Tonga rocking through casually, just seeing what’s happening.
“I think the reaction from Cassie said it all.
“But we know what Cassie’s like, nothing fazes here. She lines up seconds later and slots it.”
Watch the rugby conversion sabotage attempt in the video above
Another commentary of the moment said: “Bit of a distraction but no worries for Cassie Siataga. She bangs it over.
“Don’t worry about any distractions, I’m just going to walk straight in front of you before you kick.”
Rugby fans slammed the conduct of the medic, although it was unclear if he in fact worked for Tonga’s team or the competition.
Mike Bubbins summed it up on X: “What a d*ck. Great kick.”
One person commented: “That’s shocking – he needs to serve a ban if he is a team official and if he’s not then he needs to be stood down until he can learn to respect the kicker.”
A second said: “Ref should’ve ordered him off the pitch for the rest of the game.”
Another suggested: “I think he’s just the venue doctor, not associated with a team. Fairly sure I’ve seen him doing the same role around the Brisbane Premier comp. Looks like he’s got his blinkers on though.”
“The bloke is a bellend, amazing composure to still put the kick over like that,” commented another.
Samoa went on to win the game 29-7, setting up a winner takes all showdown between Fiji and Samoa on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams are tied on 10 points on top of the competition table.
The winner of the event will qualify directly to next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.