Rugby Jersey, Not Gang Gear | Wellington News

Wellington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 17, 2026 · 1m

A rugby jersey with “Lower North Bulldogs” sparked a bizarre police crackdown—charging Syd Te Rata for wearing gang insignia, despite zero evidence. The jersey, found days later in a washing basket and never seized at the scene, was allegedly tied to the Mongrel Mob via a tournament and “Bulldog” branding. But a rugby historian proved team names are common, and the defense slammed the prosecution as bullying. Police dropped charges after court exposed the flimsy case—and this comes amid a High Court ruling that gang patch bans may violate free speech. Te Rata’s lawyer called it a win for…