4 Sep 2014

Shoving ref earns five week ban

6:42 pm on 4 September 2014

The Waikato prop Ben Tameifuna has been suspended from rugby for five weeks after pushing referee Glen Jackson during Waikato's win over North Harbour last Saturday.

The Waikato prop Ben Tameifuna has been suspended from rugby for five weeks after pushing referee Glen Jackson during Waikato's win over North Harbour last Saturday.

The incident happened near the end of the match when Tameifuna, while defending the try line, pushed Jackson out of the way.

Jackson was knocked off his feet but uninjured.

Tameifuna was cited for the incident and in his decision judicial officer Chris Morris noted Tameifuna had apologised to Jackson immediately after the game.

Prop Ben Tameifuna has been suspended for five weeks for shoving referee Glen Jackson.

Prop Ben Tameifuna has been suspended for five weeks for shoving referee Glen Jackson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Morris accepted Tameifuna was genuinely remorseful and had accepted his actions were inexcusable.

He also accepted the player's statement that he was focussed on defending the goal line and moving the referee away from that line was an instinctive move rather than a malicious one.

He also took into account that Jackson hadn't taken taken issue with the incident.

With the five week ban Morris says he had "endeavoured to impose a proportionate sanction taking into account other similar situations from overseas decisions.

"However it is imperative that players instinctively know that it is never, under any circumstances, appropriate for a player to abuse, verbally or physically, a match official."

Tameifuna is banned immediately from all rugby up to and including October 5th.