Ugly scenes as officials jeered following Super Rugby Pacific final

Booing by fans following the final whistle has marred the Super Rugby Pacific final in which the Crusaders celebrated a remarkable seventh consecutive title with a 25-20 victory over the Chiefs.

The win not only marked the end of an era of rugby union domination but also signaled the departure of coach Scott Robertson to the All Blacks. However, the jubilant atmosphere was overshadowed by a section of angry Chiefs fans who resorted to booing, targeting the match referee and officials in particular.

The booing could be heard around the FMG Stadium Waikato when Ben O’Keeffe, Angus Gardner, and Nic Berry approached the stage to collect an award before the trophy presentation. Instead of applause, they were met with jeers and boos from disgruntled Chiefs supporters. The hostility extended beyond the officials, as even Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor faced a similar reception when he spoke to reporters on the sideline immediately after the victory over the PA system.

Chiefs fans booing the match officials at the Super Rugby trophy presentation…..#SuperRugby #SuperRugbyPacificFinal #CHIvCRU pic.twitter.com/u1VbkaNEzt

— Philip Bendon (@PBendon) June 24, 2023

The reasons behind the fans’ outburst was apparently in response to O’Keeffe’s refereeing of the game in which the Chiefs were heavily penalised on occassion. While it is worth noting that emotions can run high in competitive sports, particularly during intense rivalries such as this final encounter, it made for an ugly post-match atmosphere.

Codie Taylor booed? #SuperRugbyPacificFinal pic.twitter.com/ndi0jYtyWN

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 24, 2023

While the behavior of a few disgruntled fans tarnished the post-match celebrations, it should not overshadow the remarkable achievement of the Crusaders. Their dominance over the past seven years is a testament to a remarkable era for the Christchurch based franchise.