A Wellington club rugby player has been banned for life by the provincial union after punching a referee in the face during a match on Saturday.
Petone winger Savelio Sagato struck referee Michael Christenhusz in the face after he took exception to being sent off for headbutting a Hutt Old Boys Marist player during a Senior 2 match at the Hutt Recreation Ground.
A Wellington Rugby judicial hearing last night imposed a life ban on Sagato and a 12-week concurrent sentence for the initial red card.
A report of the match on the Petone rugby club’s website said the incident had sullied the name of the club.
“An unexpected behaviour by one of our players will ruin everything good about rugby especially for our people and our club,” said coach Michael Schuster.
Schuster apologised to Christenhusz in the report adding: “I am very sorry for what happened on Saturday … this is not what Petone Rugby Football Club expected from any of their members especially rugby players.”
Sagato, who did not attend the hearing, has 14 days to appeal from the date he receives written notification of the decision.
PkD
Guest
Typical Petone behaviour. They have made their name by poaching Wainui talent and thuggery.
PeterK
Roar Guru
As a ref I had a player start to charge at me when I gave a penalty against him, the captain was right there next to him and tackled him, and called his team mates over who held him down. I waited until he calmed down. I thanked his captain for his quick thinking. I told the player if he had touched me he would of gotten a lengthy suspension maybe life. I said he should thank his captain. He was young about 21. He apologised to me. I then gave him a yellow and said he was very lucky it wasnt a red, and explained to him and the captain the yellow gave him time to think about it. The captain thanked me and afterward said to me he thought I had handled it well.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
If only Sav had used the "drunk whilst overcoming childhood difficulties at the time and therefore not responsible for actions" defence he'd be named captain and taking the shots at goal this weekend!
Hoy
Roar Guru
Worst ref I have had was a girl. I had a year of League, and the ref called the game off because he went to send a player from our team off, and the madman started chasing the ref with abuse, and threat of violence. We were winning too. It was embarrasing to be on the same team to be honest. There is no comeback from that sort of behaviour, and it truly does sully the name of a club.
formeropenside
Guest
You just can't do that. If there referee is giving you such a problem, just walk off the field. Take the whole team off if you have to, but you can't hit the guy (or girl - best ref I ever had was a girl).
Hanzo
Guest
Just as a side note, I see a player who was given a life ban in 2003 for the same offense has been reinstated to club rugby, I think in Wellington also. A dangerous precedent to set I feel. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
CizzyRascal
Roar Guru
Can't really add anything but about right. Not needed in any sport, let alone our game.