Banned for breaking jaw

Wairarapa Bush flanker Sam Marshall-Wilson, centre, has been banned from all rugby for five weeks.

Wairarapa Bush flanker Sam Marshall-Wilson has been banned from all rugby for five weeks -- a sentence including the remainder of this year's Heartland Championship and the start of next year's club season.

Marshall-Wilson was cited under law 10.4 (a) by NZRFU citing commissioner Mike O'Leary for striking Wanganui first five-eighth Dane Whale in the 43rd minute of their match at Cooks Gardens last Saturday. Wanganui won the match 38-24.

The Eketahuna utility forward admitted throwing the punch which was described as "felling" Whale after an altercation in a ruck.

Whale was sent to hospital where it was found he had a broken jaw.

The injury required surgery.

Judicial officer Roger Drummond acknowledged Marshall-Wilson's quick admission of guilt for his role in the incident, and his remorse.

Despite that, he said the offending was of a serious nature.

Marshall-Wilson's five-week suspension from all rugby was effective from yesterday, meaning he was unavailable for selection for Wairarapa Bush's match against Buller tomorrow and the first four weeks of the official club season of 2015 (excluding pre-season fixtures).