Taumalolo suspended

Rugby: Hawke’s Bay prop Sona Taumalolo has been suspended for three weeks after being cited after his team’s Ranfurly Shield defence last Sunday.

The incident occurred late in the second half of the match against Wellington when Taumalolo deliberately struck an opposition player several times.

Duty judicial officer Nigel Hampton QC deemed his actions to be intentional and deliberate with a starting point sanction of six weeks. The sanction was reduced to three weeks on account of Taumalolo’s early admission of wrongdoing, expression of regret and a good judicial record over a long career. He will miss the rest of the season.