Turangawaewae rugby league captain calls out poor behaviour after hubby sustains head injury
Thursday, 25 June 2026
A women’s rugby league captain has quit playing over player safety concerns, and her team will forfeit its upcoming match in protest.
Pourewa Ruri-Clarke had been playing for Turangawaewae Rugby League Sports and Culture Club but said she could no longer participate in a competition where “malicious behaviour” had not been adequately addressed by Waikato Rugby League (WRL).
“It tells us that this will be tolerated when it absolutely should not be,” Ruri-Clarke told the Waikato Times.
“I am not prepared to continue participating in a competition that demonstrates a lack of commitment to player welfare.”
The concerns stem from a recent senior men’s game between Turangawaewae Rugby League Sports and Culture Club and Ngāruawāhia Panthers.
Footage seen by the Waikato Times showed players throwing swinging forearms, shoulder charges and no-arms tackles as well as an on-field skirmish that spilled over the sideline.
Ruri-Clarke’s partner was among those affected, suffering a serious head injury.
She said he’s been off work for over a month and isn’t the only player who was seriously injured.
“Someone’s got to stand up and advocate for our players, their welfare and safety. They’ve got families to come home to.”
It’s the latest in a wave of incidents that have plagued the Waikato sporting scene, stemming from allegations of parent-on-player violence in an under-14 rugby game to youth rugby league games cancelled after reports of physical and verbal abuse in Hopuhopu.
Following the game, Ruri-Clarke filed a complaint with WRL focusing on foul play she said was not called during the match.
Despite the footage, she said sanctions had not been imposed.
“You start to wonder, OK, who’s at the decision-making level deciding not to impose specific sanctions.”
In response, the Turangawaewae women’s team has decided to forfeit its upcoming game on Sunday.
Ruri-Clarke said the decision came as a surprise to her and demonstrated that “player welfare needs to be taken seriously”.
“It means a lot. It shows unity. This isn’t just about myself and my whaanau. My voice alone can only reach so far but a collective stand against this behaviour amplifies that intentional and reckless foul play has no place in our game.'
She is also calling on WRL to take decisive action against malicious behaviour and prioritise player welfare.
“We shouldn't have to rely solely on referees to address and stamp out this behaviour.”
Ruri-Clarke told the Times on Wednesday, the issue is being handled “through the appropriate channels”.
Turangawaewae and Ngāruawāhia clubs both declined to comment..
In a social media post, Turangawaewae’s WRL delegate Manawa Rhind said players deserved to take the field knowing their welfare was valued and their concerns would be investigated.
“As a team, we cannot support a process that fails to consider all available evidence when making decisions that impact player safety.”
Ngāruawāhia Panthers urged supporters to refrain from “getting tied up in any back and forth online”.
“Let’s allow the WRL board to carry out their processes diligently and let natural justice be served when and where appropriate to whoever they deem necessary,” the Panthers’ social media post said.
Aukaha News reported the WRL board convened an independent judiciary complaints panel following the game to investigate the incidents.
A request to stand down the players involved was declined as none were sent-off during the match but an appeal has been since lodged, according to Aukaha News.
WRL chair Harley Raihe told Aukaha News the board treated the matter with transparency and is shifting their focus toward systemic, long-term cultural change.
“There’s an approach that we’re gonna take with our clubs in putting ownership and education around these issues that have been raised.
“I’m a firm believer that if there’s a space for change, the influence of change needs to come from within the clubs in terms of their culture, their behaviour.”