Fan, 72, ejected for mascot dance

Wales fan Jean Richards (Pic: Sydney Daily Telegraph)

A 72-year-old Wales fan sporting full national costume was ejected from a rugby international in Australia for dancing with a wallaby mascot.

Llanelli-born Jean Richards has spoken of being thrown out of the stadium by security guards in Sydney on Saturday.

She had left the stand to dance with an Australia mascot near the pitch.

Stadium bosses are reported to have denied any heavy-handedness, but the Australian Rugby Union will fly her to this weekend's second test in Brisbane.

Ms Richards, who now lives in Sydney, saved for two months to buy her ticket to the test, which Wales eventually lost 29-23 after an injury-time Australia try.

But she missed a large part of the game after being ejected by security guards and police.

'Wouldn't move'

She left her seat in the stand to dance with the host's wallaby mascot at pitch-side at the Telstra stadium and said the crowd "loved" her actions.

Ms Richards said: "I was in the front row - the boys were winning and then this mascot called Wally came around.

Jean Richards was led away after dancing with the Australian mascot, Wally. Enlarge Image

"I opened the gate, went behind him, put my hand on his shoulder - the Australian crowd loved it.

"I was only a couple of metres from the fence, so I was not anywhere near the field of play.

"All of a sudden, security came from nowhere.

"I wouldn't move from my seat so they sent for the police - they threw me out in the cold."

Stadium officials have cited a zero-tolerance policy to all pitch intrusions and denied security officers or police overreacted to the incident.

But the Wales-supporting pensioner is now likely to watch this Saturday's second test in Brisbane after the Australian Rugby Union offered her tickets and a flight to the game.