Umaga escapes 'handbag' penalty

Tana Umaga

Former All Black captain Tana Umaga has escaped punishment for hitting Hurricanes team-mate Chris Masoe with a handbag during a pub fracas in the early hours of Sunday.

But Masoe has been fined $3000 for his part in the incident.

The men had been drinking at Christchurch's Jolly Poacher tavern between 6.30am and 8am following the Hurricanes' Super 14 final loss to Canterbury on Saturday evening.

Umaga twice struck Masoe over the head with a woman's handbag after Masoe got into a dispute with another drinker in the bar.

The blows were sufficient to break a cellphone in the handbag and reduce Masoe to tears.

Both men appeared before New Zealand Rugby Union officials in Wellington yesterday.

In a statement, Professional Players Manager Steve Lancaster said Masoe had admitted punching a member of the public and had been fined $3000 "in accordance with the serious misconduct provisions in the Players Collective Agreement".

But the NZRU accepted Umaga's explanation that he had hit Masoe "to defuse the situation", and ruled he had no case to answer.

Umaga, who described the incident as "regrettable" has replaced the woman's cellphone.

A repentant Masoe, who faced a suspension of up to a month or even the sack, said he accepted his behaviour was "totally inappropriate", and apologised for "any offence my actions may have caused".

The woman whose handbag was at the centre of the incident said last night she was pleased with the outcome of the NZRU hearing.

She was happy her phone had been replaced, and believed Masoe's $3000 fine was appropriate.

"I would say that's probably pretty fair ... you can't just go around smacking anyone."

Masoe's victim was philosophical about the fine imposed, and said he would have been happy for Masoe simply to replace his spilt beer.

The man was struck on the left side of the face and left nursing a jaw that was "sorer on Monday than it was on Sunday".