http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1718936,00.html

I'm a bit puzzled why football players like Lee Bowyer, Duncan Ferguson, and Dyer get sent to court for on field fighting but Rugby players who get involved in a fight never seem to.

probably because they are more 'high profile' than rugby stars.

and the incident with the student the other year didnt help

but, fighting is fighting after all and should be punishable equally no matter what the sport

Why should either???..unless one of those involved is to press charges then I believe the police should keep out.
If you were to have a fight at work and no-one was going to press charges against you then you would be internally disciplined and it would be left at that