Rugby fans were left shaking their heads in response to the unsportsmanlike behavior of medical staff during a match in Australia this week.
Samoa’s win over Tonga in the second round of the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship was overshadowed by an apparent sabotage incident at Sunnybank Rugby Club in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Samoa flyhalf Cassie Siataga was preparing for a conversion attempt on the sideline and was about to initiate her approach when a medical officer walked right between her and the kicking tee.
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She shook her head with an exasperated look on her face, but converted from a tight angle to extend her team’s lead to 14-0.
Rugby writer Jamie Wall shared his current vision and wrote for X: “This guy is pathetic. Medical staff must sit back and keep quiet until necessary… But it’s great.”
The commentary for the video explained: “Siataga is trying to make the transition and one of the Tongan medical staff is casually moving around and watching what is happening.
“I think Cassie’s reaction says it all.
“But we know who Cassie is. Nothing is embarrassing here. She lines up a few seconds later and puts it in her slot.”
Watch the rugby conversion sabotage attempt in the video above.
Another commentary from that moment reads: “There was a bit of a distraction, but no worries for Cassie Siataga. She hit it hard.
“Don’t worry about being distracted. I’ll just walk right in front of you before you kick.”
Rugby fans have criticized the medical staff’s actions, but it is unclear whether he actually worked for the Tonga team or at the competition.
Mike Bubbins summed up X as follows: “It’s a great kick.”
One person said: “That’s shocking. If he’s a team official, he should be banned. If not, he should be out of his seat until he learns to respect the kicker.”
A second person said: “The referee should have ordered him off the pitch for the rest of the game.”
Another said: “I don’t think he’s part of the team, he’s just a ringside doctor. We’ve certainly seen him play the same role in the Brisbane premiership. But it seems like the blinders were on.”
Another said: “The guy still has incredible composure to do the kick like that.”
Samoa went on to win 29-7 to set up winners in Sunday afternoon’s showdown between Fiji and Samoa.
Both teams are competing for first place with 10 points.
The winner of this competition will receive a direct ticket to the Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in England next year.
