WA rugby player cops FIVE-year ban for deliberately running into and over referee

A Perth membership rugby participant has acquired a close to five-year suspension for intentionally working over a referee throughout a sport in WA’s high league.

The Nine papers reported Rugby WA had handed down a 96-game ban, which is able to final nearly 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.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

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 underneath World Rugby Law 9.28 for bodily abuse of a Match Official.

The 96-week suspension is the most important potential penalty underneath 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 mentioned.

“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.”