McKenty suspended for two weeks on striking charge

Joel McKenty

Northland loose forward Joel McKenty was banned from all rugby for two weeks today, but it remains unclear when he will serve the suspension.

He was suspended after being found guilty of striking Southland opponent Hale T-Pole during an Air New Zealand Cup match in Whangarei on October 1.

McKenty faced a New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee in Wellington today when he acknowledged he had struck T-Pole.

He said he did so after T-Pole had grabbed him, that the blow was struck on the spur of the moment to make T-Pole release him and that there was no intention on his part to cause injury.

The committee said T-Pole sustained a "quite severe" injury, comprising bruising and lacerations to his upper lip and the right side of his face.

In addition, a medical report presented to the committee indicated T-Pole had sustained two cracked teeth.

The committee said irrespective of the events that lead to the blow being struck, the striking of another player on the rugby field was clearly unacceptable.

It found the offending was aggravated by the fact T-Pole was struck from behind and was unable to defend himself.

It accepted that McKenty had no previous record of foul play and was otherwise remorseful at what he had done.

The suspension was imposed on the basis that if McKenty obtained a contract to play overseas in the off-season, as he indicated to the committee was in the offering, he was to be suspended for the first two weeks of playing overseas.

Otherwise, the suspension was to take place for the first two weeks of the Northland club competition from March 17-30 2007 next year.

- NZPA