Maitland Junior Rugby will promote the values of the club and of the game in general through a code of conduct for their spectators, coaches, players and parents.

Maitland Junior Rugby president Kerrie Nichols said the code outlined the way the club expected all people to conduct themselves when they attended games.

But is also a way of promoting the good nature of the game, he said.

“This is a way we can explain to people that there are good qualities to be learnt from the game,” Nichols said.

He cited a misconception of the qualities of the game by those not associated with it as the main reason the code was adopted in Maitland.

“I think it is hard sometimes for people who don’t have much to do with rugby to understand what it’s all about,” he said.

“It is rough, but no more rough than a tumble in the backyard.

“It should be viewed as a way to teach kids those good qualities like sportsmanship and being part of a team.”

The international spotlight was firmly placed on the bad behaviour of sport parents in past years following aggressive behaviour from high profile parents including Damir Dokic, father and coach of international tennis star Jelena Dokic.