A Perth membership rugby participant has acquired a close to five-year suspension for intentionally operating over a referee throughout a recreation in WA’s prime league.
The Nine papers reported Rugby WA had handed down a 96-game ban, which can final virtually 5 full seasons, to the unnamed participant.
During a WA Rugby Premier Grade conflict between Perth Bayswater and Associates, a participant bumped into and over referee Ian Sunderland from behind throughout play.
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The official believed on the time it was an accident however video and witness accounts noticed the act decided to be deliberate, and the participant was cited below World Rugby Law 9.28 for bodily abuse of a Match Official.
The 96-week suspension is the biggest potential penalty below World Rugby legal guidelines.
“RugbyWA can confirm the suspension of a Perth Bayswater Rugby Club player under the charge of physical abuse of a Match Official (under Law 9.28),” a press release learn.
“The suspension follows an incident from a Premier Grade game on 22 April 2023 – a RugbyWA Judicial Committee finding the player guilty.
“Due to the high-end and deliberate nature of the offence, a sanction of 96 weeks – effectively, almost five years – was handed down.”
RugbyWA chief govt Simon Taylor added: “We strongly condemn any form of abuse or harassment towards match officials, and are determined to ensure that any such behaviour is stamped out of the game.
“The rugby community must remain vigilant against abuse towards match officials, and we hope that this sanction contributes to ensuring a more respectful approach to officials at any level of rugby.”
Perth Bayswater, the oldest frequently working rugby membership within the state, delivered a press release to the Nine papers from membership president Darrell Stops.
“We have accepted the decision and we don’t condone what he did. We fully support the decision of the referees’ association, and RugbyWA. We have genuine concerns for referee Ian Sunderland and his injury from the incident, and that was foremost in our own thoughts,” Stops stated.
“But at the same time we are trying to support our player, who is not in a good space, and we are trying to support him as best we can.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
