Rugby player handed five-year ban for assaulting ref – despite official believing it was accidental
Rugby player is banned from the sport for five years for assaulting a referee, even though the official thought it was an accident at the time
- The Perth Bayswater rugby player has been handed a 96-week suspension
- Followed contact on the field is considered intentional by the referee
- Player said he was ‘repentant’, incident was on April 22
A suburban rugby player has been suspended for five years after assaulting a referee on the pitch.
Whistleblower Ian Sunderland was the victim, but the matchday official initially thought the contact was accidental after he was knocked over from behind while playing in the WA Rugby Premier Grade clash.
Witness testimony and video of the April 22 incident proved otherwise.
The ‘repentant’ player – who has not been named – represents Perth Bayswater, who as a club have ‘accepted the decision’.
“We don’t condone what he did. We fully support the decision of the refereeing association and Rugby WA,” club president Darrell Stops told the club The Sydney Morning Herald.
A suburban rugby player banned from playing for five years after attacking a referee on the pitch (pictured, Perth Bayswater players)
Whistleblower Ian Sunderland was the victim, but the match day official initially thought the contact was accidental (stock image)
“We are genuinely concerned about referee Ian Sunderland and his injury from the incident. “But at the same time we try to support our player, who is not in a good space.”
The player in question was summoned by Rugby WA for physically assaulting a match official, under World Rugby’s Law 9.28.
According to the code’s global laws, the maximum possible ban is 96 weeks.
As each suburban rugby season includes around 19 games per year, this equates to five years on the sidelines.
All career options have also been exhausted.
The lengthy suspension comes after football referee Khodr Yaghi suffered broken ribs and a broken jaw following a shocking attack on the pitch on April 28 in southwestern Sydney.
Amateur boxer Adam Abdallah, 25, was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and arguing after footage of the incident went viral.
Abdallah will return to court in June.