WRU steps in over Beach Rugby Wales brawls in Swansea

Welsh rugby chiefs want answers from four teams after their games at a beach tournament ended in brawls.

Ferndale, Porth A, Rhigos and Wattstown were thrown out of the Beach Rugby Wales (BRW) event in Swansea.

The tournament's organiser believes the clubs from Rhondda Cynon Taff could be accused by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) of bringing the game into disrepute.

Ashleigh Walters, from BRW, believes it would be "making a mountain out of a molehill".

The clubs were thrown out of the 48-team competition after the Ferndale-Rhigos and Porth A-Wattstown games turned into brawls.

Video showed officials and police officers enter the pitch as players were separated.

The WRU has now stepped into the row and a spokesman confirmed all four clubs have been asked to supply "their version of events".

Charges fear

Mr Walters stressed the organisers did not condone the violence and said the teams would be banned from next year's competition.

But he fears WRU charges could follow and asked: "Are they going to do that to every club that has a dust-up on camera?

"Are they going to charge every club that has a bust-up on the pitch every Saturday?"

Mr Walters said footage of the tournament also showed the players shaking hands and sitting next to each other on the terraces after the fights ended.

He is still hoping to arrange a meeting with Swansea Council for reassurances the tournament can go ahead next year.

Mr Walters' preference is to stay in Swansea, but he said he was prepared to move it elsewhere in Wales or the UK if necessary.

A spokesman for Porth confirmed the club had sent its response to the WRU. Porth entered four teams in the tournament, but only one was involved in fighting.

The WRU said it could not put a timeframe on when its investigations would be complete.