Manawatū sports grapple with sideline abuseSUPPLIED Central Football Manawatū operations manager Donald Piper says the sport introduced new sideline programmes and coach training to get bullies in sport under control. A Palmerston North boy's return to rugby league this season has shone a spotlight on sideline abuse and the efforts of sports bodies to clean up their games. So, it was reassuring that the Kia Ora Warriors are part of a new campaign by New Zealand Rugby League to tackle sideline abuse, by having "sideline champions" keeping an eye on supporters' behaviour. It was based on a successful Auckland Rugby League programme and last year it was implemented in junior league nationwide, with good results, Sharp said. Manawatū Rugby League juniors chairman Lawrence Erihe fully supported the programmes.

Source: Stuff February 18, 2018 04:30 UTC