Sheep tackling, a popular half-time entertainment in parts of New Zealand, is to be banned following criticism from an animal welfare group.

About 500 children chased five sheep wearing rugby shirts during the break at the NPC Third Division final between Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said "animals should not be exploited like this".

Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union denied cruelty but agreed to stop the game.

Val Ball, the president of Wairarapa's SPCA, said: "The message that these young people are getting is that it's OK to get out there and bully animals for entertainment, it's not acceptable to do this sort of thing."

Wairarapa-Bush rugby chairman David Cameron said no sheep were harmed during the chasing but confirmed he would look for new half-time entertainment.

Strangely enough, sheep managed to secure a place in New Zealand's rugby heritage.

Colin 'Pinetree' Meads, one the country's most famous players, was rumoured to run up hills with a sheep under each arm as part of his training regime.

While current star Richie McCaw has also admitted that chasing sheep around the paddock at home was an important part of his rugby upbringing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi...ion/4371118.stm

Is this ban just for tackling sheep as a sport, or are their gonna be broken hearts all over the south island?

cv

Is this ban just for tackling sheep as a sport, or are their gonna be broken hearts all over the south island? 

cv

Cue Chuchok... enter stage left...

Is this ban just for tackling sheep as a sport, or are their gonna be broken hearts all over the south island? 

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cue Chuchok... enter stage left...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You called?

If it's all forms of " sheep tackling" it could cause a baby boom in NZ

Does this mean Speights is going to need a whole new warning label on it now?

When consuming, please stay out of the paddock.

cv