SA Rugby has declined to comment on reports that Springbok Earl Rose was involved in a mass punch-up at a touch-rugby tournament in his home town, Strand, on Tuesday.
Rugby 365 reports that Rose, who was a surprise inclusion in the Bok team for the year-end tour to the United Kingdom last month and is a member of Johannesburg-based Lions, played for a team called Jamaicans in the annual Strand touch-rugby event.
Jamaicans is a team entered by Rose and also included his younger brother Jody, who also plays professional rugby for the Lions. They compete in the Strand event every year when they return home during their annual holiday.
According to local media reports Earl Rose took exception to remarks made by another spectator to his father, Enver, after the two were involved in a scuffle.
The incident, at the end of a match between Jamaicans and a team called ‘Dwergies’ (Midgets), was one of at least two major punch-ups that caused organisers to bring a premature halt to proceedings.
However, SA Rugby declined to comment on the involvement of the Springbok tourist in the fracas.
“The incident has not been reported to SA Rugby and we are unaware of the full facts, and are therefore in no position to comment,” Andy Colquhoun, Strategic Communications Manager at SA Rugby, told rugby365.com on Wednesday.
According to a report in the Afrikaans daily, Die Burger, Earl Rose got involved during the altercation between his father, Enver, and another spectator.
“Earl punched the guy seven/eight times. His [the spectator’s] face was a bloodied mess,” the newspaper reported.
According to the report Rose’s sister also got involved in the fracas.
The fighting, which was preceded by other incidents, got out of hand, as spectators became involved.
The organiser of the event, Grahame Bobrow, said he regretted the incident – the first time since the tournament’s inception eight years ago that something like this has happened.

Earl is an embarrassment!
Thank goodness he no longer plays for WP.
Then again I suppose most WP supporters would rather have him than Duke.
🙄
I am not suprised at all… 👿
Hey Charlie!!!
Howzit brudda???
Maybe he was high…..
You gotta wonder what the intention was of calling his team the “Jamaicans” 😛
@wpw (Comment 3) : Hosh mase kind, hell nog gie breaking up man…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : Hulle is almal dik geroek…Airie…One love… 😈
But Strand is such a peaceful place. 🙄
Earl for Flyweight champion of the world! 😆
@Big Fish (Comment 8) :
Hehehehhe 😆
7/8 punches 😯 “Fast Earl” Rose
@Big Fish (Comment 8) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : Floats like a muggie…Stings like a rose…. 😆 😆 😆
@Big Fish (Comment 8) : Must say things have changed since you left…
Earl was pissed off that someone else thought of calling their team the “Dwergies”
@Salmonoid (Comment 12) : classic 🙂
@Charlie (Comment 10) :
Bwhahahahha
Did you mean SMOKES like a Rasta stings like a Rose?
The war of the Roses….episode 36, charachterised by another appearance of daddy Enver(the catalyst) and a special guest appearance by his sister.
@Charlie (Comment 11) :
Where? Die Strand? I had some good times there actually.
On my way for my 2 week vacation today – 2 great weeks with the family in Dublin.
I dont intend watching the cricket.
@Salmonoid (Comment 15) : I feel sorry for the brother in law to be… 😥
@Big Fish (Comment 16) : Wow, enjoy buddy and Xmas wishes to the family…Tomorrow’s the big day for me and the Mrs…
@Charlie (Comment 18) :
All the best Charlie – my thoughts will be with all three of you. 😆
@Big Fish (Comment 19) : Thanx…Buddy… 🙂
@Charlie (Comment 17) :
Never thought of that, 😯 but hell you are right, poor bugger.
@Charlie (Comment 17) :
Yeah if his wife doesn’t bliksem him then his Father or brother in law will.
Gonna be a tough life that. 😳
I never knew Jamaica had a touch rugby team. Must be good for the development of the game.
@McLovin (Comment 23) : and the brain…it’s organic… 😆
@Charlie (Comment 18) : hey – grats, Charlie! Do you know what you’re having?
Scum. The lot of them.
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Thanx…surprise…thinks pink, but hope for blue… 😉