Thread: A Sickening Day for Welsh Rugby.

Can't hink of any Saffers in the cardiff squad, but there is a full team of welsh internationals

15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Tom James
13 Tom Shanklin
12 Jamie Roberts
11 Chris Czejak
10 Ceri Sweeney
9 Richie Rees / Gareth Cooper

1 Gethin Jenkins
2 T Rhys Thomas
3 John Yapp
4 Bradley Davies
5 Deniol Jones
6 Sam Warburton
8 Andy Powell
7 Martyn Williams

7 of those are Lions also.

^ cheers. They have a very good squad - I follow them because of the Tito/NZ connection he was club player when I was reffing in Taranaki, good man.

Can you recall another incident where rugby violence went to the police? - I'm sure they have occurred I just can't think who/when. An injury like this - if they can prove intentional - should be more than a rugby union ban imho

cant compare any team to S.Africa when it comes to foul play , take that away from them and they are very average , just look at the last Lions tour their , they should have been down to 12 players in one of the tests

this oaf Attwood . . . when England toured Oz this year he escaped two stomping charges on a technicality - a document hadn't been signed agreeing on the citing commissioner being Australian ie not independent. Seems he has a problem with his feet.

Dave Attwood Latest in the Dock with Rugby Thuggery Under the Spotlight

22/12/2010
It's the ugly side of the game that has never truly been stamped out - and now it appears to be having far-reaching consequences.

England second-row Dave Attwood, tipped by many to force his way in Martin Johnson's England side as a permanent fixture having made his debut last month, is now in the dock for stamping.

The giant Gloucester lock now faces up to a year out of the game after being cited for stamping on a player from La Rochelle during an Amlin Challenge Cup game.

Attwood has since been at the centre of a furious blast from the French side. They lodged evidence with European chiefs that he deliberately kicked Petrisor Toderasc in the face.

Toderasc went straight to hospital with La Rochelle initially fearing for their prop's eyesight and his club immediately sent photo evidence to the citing commissioner.

Tests later confirmed that his vision had not been affected and early concerns about a suspected broken cheekbone have also been allayed.

But he didn't get off that lightly. He has a scar on his cheek, two broken teeth which required emergency dental work and possible damage to tear ducts in the eye allegedly struck by Attwood's boot.

The good news for Attwood is that Toderasc has been advised not to take any individual legal action against his assailant.

The bad news is that La Rochelle have since urged ERC to throw the book at Attwood.

Furious club president Vincent Merling said: 'We are not happy with any incident like that. It was a reprehensible act - an unsporting act.

"It is dangerous to play like that and there cannot be a place for it on the field. An act like that can have serious consequences, so we have made a declaration to the ERC and provided pictures.

"Now it is a matter for them."

Attwood, 23, was cited on England's summer tour for two alleged stamping incidents, but escaped punishment as the case was dismissed.

This time he may not be so fortunate.

If found guilty, it he could be hit with a tough sanction. It will immediately destroy his hopes of appearing in the forthcoming Six Nations campaign - and potentially ruin his future as he goes 12 months without playing.

A similar stamping incident in Wales at the start of the season brought more profound consequences for the aggressor and victim.

Gavin Quinnell, whose brother Scott and father Derek represented the British Lions, lost the sight in his left eye.

He's been forced to end a promising playing career, while a Cross Keys player has since been charged by the police.

It doesn't stop there, though.

Cardiff Blues and Wales scrum-half Richie Rees also faces a serious charge by ERC after being cited for eye gouging Northampton Saints hooker Dylan Hartley during their recent Heineken Cup clash.

One player who was caught in the act of gouging was France scrum-half Julien Dupuy during fiery Heineken Cup match against Ulster last December.

The graphic television pictures led him to receive a six-month ban while team mate David Attoub was given a 70-week suspension for a similar offence in the same match.

All these incidents do is throw a spotlight on rugby thuggery.

Yet it appears not even the lengthy sentences being handed now is making a difference.

Perhaps Attwood's act may just prove a watershed if he's punished with a hefty ban, as rugby bosses look for ways to clean up the game for good.

Originally Posted by spikebs4

one second of being the bigman or fkwit in this case can sometimes mean a lifetime of looking over your shoulder ....

Just a shame the victim will only be able to look over one of his shoulders.

The difference between footy and rugby,, The thugs watch football

and another eye gouge, in England this time

Maidstone Rugby Club fined over eye gouging
13 January 2011

A Kent rugby club has been fined £2,000 and deducted 50 points following a deliberate attack which left an opposing player blind in one eye.

Clarence Harding's right eye was gouged during a game between his side, Gravesend Rugby Club, and Maidstone RFC at Mote Park a year ago.

A Rugby Football Union hearing found Maidstone guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.

The club has the right to appeal against the decision.

Giving his reaction to the penalty, Mr Harding said: "The one thing that I was really disappointed in, and am still disappointed in, is the measly £2,000 they got fined.

"I have golf clubs that cost more than that.

"I had to give up rugby, I had to redevelop everything I do on a day-to-day basis, it is life-changing.

"For them to build up their reputation again, yes it is going to take a long time, and that is fine, they will get their reputation back, but I will never get my sight back."

Maidstone RFC has declined to comment.

In November, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it could not be determined which player was responsible for causing the injury in the match on 17 January 2010.

Judge Jeff Blackett, chief disciplinary officer, cleared Maidstone player Matt Iles of eye gouging at a previous hearing, but he also determined Mr Harding had been injured in a deliberate act.

The club is currently sixth in London 2 South East with 28 points, but the penalty handed down by the RFU will almost certainly mean relegation at the end of the season.

Update on OP

Scarlets shocked by gouging verdict
04th April 2011 18:32

The Scarlets have voiced their dismay at a WRU disciplinary panel decision to take no further action in the case regarding an incident that left forward Gavin Quinnell blind in one eye.

In a statement released on Monday, Scarlets expressed their "astonishment and deep shock" after a WRU disciplinary panel hearing did not uphold the citing and a subsequent appeal last week put forward by Llanelli RFC, ruling that there was no case to answer.

Quinnell was forced to end his professional rugby career after the serious eye injury sustained in the game against Cross Keys in October 2010.

The son of ex-Wales and British Lions player Derek Quinnell and brother of ex-internationals Scott and Craig had surgery immediately after the game but doctors were unable to save his eye. He continues to receive medical treatment under a specialist at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff.

Quinnell had recently re-signed with the Scarlets, having spent two years at Worcester and two years at Italian Super 10 side Viadana. He was playing for Llanelli in the Welsh Premiership and under contract with the Scarlets rugby region at the time of the incident.

"We are all astonished and deeply-shocked by the decision that has been reached," read the statement.

"Naturally Gavin and his family are devastated by this stark verdict and have requested that they are given some time and space to let a very disappointing outcome sink in.

"The fact is everyone involved in this case is currently so numb, that we are not in a position to make any further comment at all at this stage; neither are we able to consider fully what course of action to take next.

"The family wish to express their thanks again to all those who have shown them great support throughout this very challenging and difficult time."