Rugby Mentality Divides South Island Township

The Kurow rugby community is apparently 'devastated'' by the crash that occurred after drunken members went on ‘the ran tan’ after pissing up at their clubrooms. 

Cue ‘Yeah Right’ meme.  

The drunk idiot driver at the wheel that night, ex North Otago rep Regan Laughton, crashed the vehicle resulting in the death of Jarrad Blackler (23) and injuries to all his fellow rugby-club passengers. One of which was in hospital for 10 weeks.  

Kevin Malcolm the coach of the Kurow Rugby Club throws at us that old-standard (quote) ''Somehow we need to find a way to make community changes to prevent this from happening again, because it is a community thing.''  

No admission from Malcolm that the club could have prevented an intoxicated driver to get behind the wheel with five passengers after pissing-up at their clubrooms.   

No talk of a club policy that involves a nominated sober driver.  

The booze in part came from his premises.  

The family, supporters of the victim are up against this ingrained small town ‘rugby’ mentality. 

This after-all is the township that is raising funds to build a statue of Richie McCaw.   

Does anyone think tragedies like this are merely the collateral for living a rural lifestyle?  

Remind me – it’s 1916, eh?  

The fact the seemingly unrepentant Laugthon escaped a jail term is another issue that sticks in one’s craw.      

As does the matter of this rugby club still being able to sell alcohol.

Same with 'the local' that tanked-up 'the tanked-up' waved them goodnight.   

If the Kurow community really cared, they would now be building a statue to Jarrad Blackler and not McCaw. 

So this young-man didn’t die in vain and this could be a fitting permanent memorial of the folly of drink-driving.

Looking after your mates. 

Fat chance.

This is rugby heartland.