One player has been banned for a year and others have been also given bans after a hearing last night following an incident in North Otago club rugby last Saturday.
Three players from the Athletic Marist club were red-carded early in the second half of a senior club game against Valley following an all-in brawl, and were ordered to appear before a judicial hearing last night.
North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Colin Jackson said, in a statement released last night, the three players were all found guilty and received bans totalling 59 weeks.
Jackson said the red cards were very disappointing and reflected poorly on the Athletic Marist team.
He declined to name the players involved. They were named by the Otago Daily Times on Monday as being halfback Filau Tokai, replacement Viliami Kaufana and No8 Malu Falepaini.
In last night's statement, Jackson said Falepaini had been mistakenly identified and red-carded but had now been exonerated of all charges.
Jackson did not return calls last night.
It is believed one player has been given a 52-week ban after he failed to appear at the hearing, another was given four weeks off and the third was given a three-week ban.
Athletic Marist president Warren Pitches said last night the club regretted the incident and did not condone the behaviour on the field.
The young men involved accepted the judicial ruling, Pitches said, and he said the club was supporting the players during this difficult time.
He declined to name the players. He said the club had a meeting on Tuesday night and had agreed not to do so.
He did not believe that, by not naming the players, all the players in the team would come under the microscope.
