Rugby: Season over for Tukino

WELLINGTON - Counties-Manukau flanker Koula Tukino's rugby season has ended with a three-week suspension.

He copped the heaviest penalty of the players who faced the New Zealand Rugby Football Union judiciary yesterday following incidents in last Sunday's Taranaki-Counties Manukau match.

Tukino was suspended by their judiciary for three weeks until October 13 for punching an opponent, and will miss the rest of round-robin competition.

Counties' remaining matches from this weekend are against Northland, North Harbour and Auckland, with the playoffs starting on the October 16-17 weekend and they're no chance to make the last four.

Taranaki's Darryl Fale was suspended for two weeks until October 6 for punching an opponent in the same match. His team-mate Brendon Haami got a week's suspension for stomping and Counties' George Stowers also got a week after being sent off for punching.

Wairarapa-Bush's Logan Ili, sent off for stomping in the second division match against Bay of Plenty, escaped further punishment from the judiciary. - NZPA