BY JOHN DAVIDSON

Exclusive: Clubs have been told the RFL will investigate an ugly brawl that erupted during a game between Thatto Heath Crusaders and Orrell St James involving players and adults.

Towards the end of an Under-15s game between Thatto and Orrell, a scuffle broke out between the two teams.

During the incident, a Thatto player can be seen running in at speed from a long distance to shoulder charge an Orrell opponent.

Players and coaches then entered the field, with at least one woman appearing to allegedly push and strike at least one young player.

Several adults came onto the pitch, with some trying to calm the brawl and others remonstrating with the teenage players.

The video was originally uploaded to YouTube, and watched by rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads, but has since been removed.

Mike Denning, chairman of Thatto Heath, told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads that the RFL is looking into the incident. 

“This incident is the subject of an RFL investigation by the safeguarding team as well as the governing league,” he said.

“We as a club have opened our own investigation and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage

“We do not and will not condone this kind of behaviour and it has no place in Rugby League.”

The RFL has said a safefguarding investigation is underway and it will be dealt with in the normal way.

Orrell St James have been approached for comment.