Railing collapse at Leichhardt Oval during schoolboy rugby match raises safety concerns

Concerns have been raised over the safety of Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval following the collapse of a railing during a schoolboy rugby match on Saturday 6th August, resulting in a number of spectators falling onto the concrete below.

NSW Ambulance reported that the paramedic crew  - who had been assigned to the oval from 11.30am to 5.30pm to watch over the annual rugby fixture between the private schools - treated some minor injuries but no one was taken to hospital.

The collapse of the railing occurred during the game between Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview and St Joseph’s College, where an estimated crowd of around 15,000 was in attendance.

Video of the incident below shows a group of men jumping up and down after their team scored, before the railing they were leaning on collapsed and they tumbled about a metre-and-a-half to the ground.

Prior to Saturday’s incident, Inner West Council has been questioning the NSW Government’s stadium funding priorities, claiming the government has reneged on agreements to perform upgrades at Leichhardt Oval and other suburban stadiums, instead diverting the money to flood reconstruction.

In May, Inner West Council called on the NSW Government to fund urgent works for the oval, noting that if upgrades were not completed, it would be untenable for games to continue being played at the facility.

In a media release issued 3rd August, Inner West Council advised “despite numerous commitments to fund suburban sports grounds, Dominic Perrottet has opted instead to spend upward of $300 million to build Penrith Stadium in an attempt to try and save the marginal seat of embattled former Minister Stuart Ayres.

“The rebuilt Penrith Stadium will host the Penrith Panthers to play 11 games a year while the once again neglected Leichhardt Oval hosts more than 50 games a year across various codes including NRL, NRLW, A-League Football, Women’s A-League, Super Rugby, Shute Shield Rugby, schoolboy rugby, junior rugby league and various other community sporting organisations.”

Specifically, Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne stated “Dominic Perrottet is happy to spend $300 million in Stuart Ayres seat, to build a shiny, new Panthers Stadium for the exclusive use of one club. But the Wests Tigers, and all of the other senior and junior, men’s and women’s Rugby League, Soccer and Rugby Union teams who regularly use Leichhardt Oval get nothing.

“I call on Mr Perrottet to explain why this shocking pork-barrelling continues while most footy fans across Sydney get dudded?

“If Dom Perrottet is brave enough to leave the corporate box and come on to the Wayne Pearce Hill at the Tigers next home game, he’s going to get a very frosty reception from the fans.”

Inner West Deputy Mayor, Jessica D’Arienzo added "we are not looking to build a brand-new stadium, we are simply asking for some help to provide decent facilities for the fans and athletes who use Leichhardt Oval.”

Image top: Still from video footage of Leichhardt oval railing collapse