FANS at a rugby match suffered injuries after a stand COLLAPSED and sent them falling head-first on to the concrete floor.
During a schoolboy game between St Joseph’s College and Riverview in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, part of the terrace railing at the Leichhardt Oval tumbled down.
9News SydneyFans were watching the match on the terrace unaware it was about to collapse[/caption]
9News SydneyThe terrace’s collapse sent dozens of fans tumbling down onto the concrete floor[/caption]
9News SydneyIt was a nasty fall but thankfully the reports are that no one was seriously injured[/caption]
The incident occurred towards the end of the match – which was watched by around 15,000 supporters.
St Joseph’s won 35-20, but it was the collapsing of the stand which caught the headlines.
Fortunately, Ambulance officers were quick to the scene and nobody was seriously injured in the incident.
Local mayor Darcy Byrne said on Twitter: “The collapse of grandstand seating at Leichhardt Oval today during a school boy rugby match was incredibly dangerous.
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“The footage is shocking. We are gathering information but thankfully it seems no one was seriously hurt.
“We are making the site safe and will fully investigate the safety risks this raises.
“I will share more information about the incident and the safety hazard as it comes to hand.”
Fans on social media were horrified at seeing the awful scenes.
One person said: “Surely today seals it that Leichhardt Oval should be immediately condemned and Wests Tigers should never play there again.”
Another added: “An upgrade of Leichhardt Oval is still not going to fix muddy hill, portaloos and minimal food and drink outlets without major changes that would upset most.
“I’ve great memories of ground, but it’s had its day for big events.”
And a third said: “Seriously though this incident is caught in 4K. It’ll have to be a line in the sand with Leichhardt Oval in terms of improvements.”
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The stadium collapse came just days after NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet failed to follow through with upgrading Leichhardt Oval.
To which Lee Hagipantelis, chair of National Rugby League side Wests Tigers, told the Weekend Australian: “He has shafted rugby.
‘These are elite sporting stadiums for the community. We have made our displeasure well known. He would be aware of it.
“As a club, we have sat down and formulated a stadium strategy for the next five or 10 years predicated on Leichhardt Oval being upgraded.
“The facilities at Leichhardt are third world, bordering on dangerous. He has attended Leichhardt on many occasions. He would be aware of it.”