Eden Park pitch invader ends up in the hospital
A streaker spent the evening at Auckland Hospital, New Zealand after charging onto the field of play.
An unwelcome visitor found himself swiftly dispatched from the field of play in New Zealand, ending up in hospital after interrupting a Super Rugby Pacific game last weekend.
During the second half of the Chiefs' 25-14 win over the Blue a number of spectators jumped from the stands at Eden Park. One naked pitch invader was on the receiving end of a big hit from stadium security and needed medical attention.
A spokesperson from Hata Hone St John hospital said that medics had “assessed and treated one patient on Reimers Ave on Saturday night at 9.01pm who was transported to Auckland Hospital in a moderate condition.”
Footage shared online showed a streaker evade numerous attempts to prevent him making it on to the field, before finally getting caught. A statement released by Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner explained that they take intruders serious for the safety of all involved.
Sautner said: “We take the safety of everyone who attends an event at Eden Park, including the players, extremely seriously. Because we don’t know what the person’s intention is when they unlawfully enter the field during a match, it is Eden Park’s policy to stop the person as soon as is practicable and reduce the risk to the players.”
In recent years there has been a major effort to crack down on pitch invasions in New Zealand rugby. In 2023 a Warriors - Broncos game at McLean Park featured more than 20 attempts to get onto the field, a significant problem for the game as a whole. New legislation in New Zealand, entitled Major Events Management Act, means that invaders can get a fine of up to $5,000NZ and three months in prison.
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