Rugby fans praised in Napier

Police are praising the behaviour of rugby fans after a trouble-free RWC Canada v Japan game this evening in Napier.

Operation Commander Inspector Mike O'Leary said crowd behaviour leading up to and during the game was without incident. There were only two arrests for drunkenness and trespass and four people were evicted from the ground for intoxication. Those evicted were Canadians and New Zealanders.

A 59-year-old Englishman and a 23-year-old male were arrested after they returned to the park after being evicted for bringing alcohol into the grounds.

"Everyone was in extremely good spirits at the park and also in the city before the game. We are very pleased with the general behaviour of those who attended the game and who were in the city pre-match," Mr O'Leary said.

A large number of rugby fans converged on Central Napier in the hours leading up to the game, with The Rose pub the preferred watering hole for many. There were no reports of disorder or fighting and everyone was in good spirits.

St John Ambulance sent two females to hospital with pre-existing medical conditions.

Police also impounded a set of bagpipes in a police van for the duration of the match. They were confiscated from a rugby fan at the grounds and were returned to the owner after the game.

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