A Perth club rugby player has received a near five-year suspension for deliberately running over a referee during a game in WA’s top league.
The Nine papers reported Rugby WA had handed down a 96-game ban, which will last almost five full seasons, to the unnamed player.
During a WA Rugby Premier Grade clash between Perth Bayswater and Associates, a player ran into and over referee Ian Sunderland from behind during play.
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The official believed at the time it was an accident but video and witness accounts saw the act determined to be deliberate, and the player was cited under World Rugby Law 9.28 for physical abuse of a Match Official.
The 96-week suspension is the largest possible penalty under World Rugby laws.
“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 statement read.
“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 executive 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 continually operating rugby club in the state, delivered a statement to the Nine papers from club 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 said.
“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.”
