Waikato lock Toby Lynn has been suspended for six weeks for biting the finger of North Harbour's Greg Rawlinson during the Ranfurly Shield rugby match at Albany last Saturday.
Waikato won 52-7 but North Harbour later complained about the biting incident in the 76th minute.
Lynn, who was
cited on Monday by citing commissioner Martin Harris, appeared at a New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee hearing in Wellington yesterday.
The suspension until October 10 means he will not be available for selection until the semifinals weekend of the Air New Zealand Cup.
The judicial committee heard evidence from Rawlinson and the North Harbour medical staff and received written reports from referee Kelvin Deaker and the two touch judges.
Rawlinson told the hearing Lynn bit his left forefinger at the bottom of a ruck as he tried to push the Waikato lock off to rejoin play. He said his finger entered Lynn's mouth and was bitten for four to five seconds.
The medical evidence, which included lacerations of the finger, was consistent with the biting allegation.
Lynn acknowledged his teeth came into contact with Rawlinson's finger in the ruck but denied intentionally biting him. He said the injury to Rawlinson occurred when his mouth was forced closed by the impact of other players joining the ruck.
The committee was satisfied the bite was intentional.
- NZPA
