Rugby Australia condemns ‘offensive’ fan behaviour towards England and Eddie Jones | Rugby Union News

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos spoke out after footage posted on social media of England head coach Eddie Jones being abused in the wake of Saturday’s third Test; England won match 21-17 in Sydney and series 2-1

England head coach Eddie Jones was abused in the wake of the third-Test win over Australia

The chief executive of Rugby Australia has condemned the “offensive” remarks and behaviour of fans towards England on Saturday night.

England head coach Eddie Jones was involved in an angry confrontation with an Australia fan after being called a “traitor” during the match.

In a statement on Monday, Andy Marinos said the comments made by spectators in the members’ area of Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) towards England staff were “unacceptable” and “not representative of the values of rugby”.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behaviour, and we are working with Venues NSW on appropriate sanctions for these individuals,” Marinos added.

“Rugby prides itself on values of respect and integrity – as seen in the players of both teams after the final whistle of a hard-fought series at the SCG on Saturday night.

“It is our expectation that spectators adhere to these values of respect and integrity when attending rugby matches – and, we would hope, in society in general.”

It comes after footage posted on social media from Saturday’s 21-17 win showed Jones being baited in two separate incidents on the night England completed a series victory.

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Highlights of the third and final Test between Australia and England, in Sydney

In one clip a man wearing a Wallabies cap and holding a pint of beer points a finger at Jones as he walks on to the pitch and says twice “you’re a traitor”, provoking a furious reaction.

Jones stalks over to the stand and replies “come here and say it” three times, causing the surprised fan to back off, and is then ushered away by a member of the ground’s security staff.

The security guard can be heard saying to the fan “I have spoken to you before”.

In another incident that takes place as he walks through the members’ area of the SCG, Jones is called a traitor once again and this time he replies “what did you say you f****** idiot. Go and f*** yourself mate.”

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David Flatman and Michael Lynagh look back at England’s Test-series win over Australia and discuss what they have learned about Eddie Jones’ young side

In a separate incident which also occurred during the third Test of Australia’s series with England, another fan was filmed climbing onto the roof of the grandstand and urinating.

On Monday, Rugby Australia said the man has been banned for life, called his “deplorable” and “disgraceful”.

“This individual has been issued with a life ban from Rugby Australia events – and we will continue to support the authorities in their handling of the matter,” Mr Marinos said.

It is understood that Jones, an Australian who coached the Wallabies from 2001 to 2005, was subjected to hostile abuse when walking to and from the coach’s box with the layout at the SCG meaning he had to pass through sections of the home crowd.

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Will Greenwood has sympathy for Eddie Jones after his reaction to an Australian fan calling him a traitor was put on Twitter

“Clowns think they have full go to abuse coaches,” Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald when asked about the incident.

Greenwood defends Jones over incident

Sky Sports rugby union expert Will Greenwood was sympathetic to Jones for reacting in the way he did given the situation he was faced with.

“Everyone with a phone is now a reporter, right? So every action which is caught, you have to act like a Tibetan monk, you have to act like a saint the whole time and you get objectionable young people…who shout things and think they’re immune from any response,” Greenwood told Sky Sports News

“When you get one it makes news and the reality is Eddie is a rugby-lover, he’s an Australia-lover doing the best he can for his country and some yob shouts some pretty average language and he gets a right to respond. So, park it, leave it and move on.”

It comes at the end of a successful tour in Australia in which Jones oversaw a valuable 2-1 series victory for England 14 months out from the next Rugby World Cup.