Byrnes cops a 10 week ban for eye-gouging

Mar 4 • National, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 2632 Views • Comments Off on Byrnes cops a 10 week ban for eye-gouging

A SANZAR Judicial Hearing has found Adam Byrnes of the Rebels guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship – making contact with the eye, after he was cited during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.

Byrnes has been suspended for Ten weeks.

The incident occurred in the 27th minute of the match between Rebels and Waratahs played at AAMI Stadium on Friday 2nd March 2012.

SANZAR Judicial Officer Paul Tully chaired the SANZAR Judicial Hearing held via videoconference on Sunday 4th March 2012.

In his finding, Mr Tully ruled the following:

After consideration of extensive video footage of the incident and written testimony from Tom Carter and the Waratahs Team Doctor, Dr Luke Inman, there was sufficient evidence to support that contact had been made with the right eye and bridge of the nose of the Waratahs player Tom Carter during the course of a ruck by the player Byrnes in contravention of the laws of the game.

Medical evidence was presented that demonstrated that Mr Carter had sustained a minor scratch to the eye but was otherwise uninjured. The entry point of an offence of this nature is 12 weeks in accordance with IRB Regulation 17.

Credit was given to Mr Byrnes for his otherwise unblemished record by reducing the suspension by 2 weeks and therefore he is suspended from all forms of the game for ten weeks, up to and including the 13^th May 2012.