Derek Flynn/Stuff
A Wellington rugby player has been suspended for 12 weeks after his penalty for kicking an opponent was appealed.
A Wellington rugby player who kicked an opponent in the head has been sidelined for the rest of the season after the local union successfully appealed against the penalty he d previously received. Meanwhile, the head of the club for which the victim plays is concerned that another of its teams is set to play against a team that was involved in a separate violent incident on the same day. The Stokes Valley lock, involved in the first incident, faced a judicial hearing in relation to an incident where he kicked a Johnsonville player repeatedly, including “one big boot to the head”, during a men s premier 2 game on Saturday.
A Johnsonville player who pushed one of the Stokes Valley locks in “reaction” to the incident escaped punishment. But a Johnsonville player who then attempted to throw some punches and a second Stokes Valley player who was also involved in the ensuing fracas were also sidelined for five weeks. Hannah said the judicial proceedings for the four players had been held separately which made little sense because they were closely related. “We were not in the loop for the decision made. The hearing was isolated.” The Johnsonville club was appealing the Stokes Valley lock’s penalty at a further judicial hearing on Thursday night.
Derek Flynn/Stuff
A Stokes Valley rugby player is facing disciplinary action after he allegedly kicked an opponent in the head. (File photo)
A Wellington club rugby player is in hot water after he allegedly kicked an opponent in the head in an “ugly” on-field incident. Johnsonville club chair Blair Hannah said he saw a Stokes Valley lock kick one of his team s players multiple times, “including one big boot to the head , as the Johnsonville player went to turn over the ball during the premier 2 men’s game on Saturday at Johnsonville’s home turf of Helston Park. “It was just ugly to see. It was really disappointing.”