Taumalolo banned for seven weeks

Hawke's Bay prop Arizona Taumalolo was today suspended from all rugby for seven weeks after being found guilty of stamping on a Nelson Bays player's face in the NPC second division final last month.

Taumalolo appeared before a New Zealand Rugby Union judicial committee here today after being cited in the 72nd minute of the match on October 22 in Napier won by Hawke's Bay.

The committee found Taumalolo, 24, trampled on the face of a Nelson Bays player who had fallen to the ground as he was contesting possession at a maul.

The Nelson Bays player received a laceration to his face which required stitches and he did not return to the field.

At the hearing, Taumalolo admitted he had trampled on the player, but it was accidental and had partly resulted from him being pushed by another Hawke's Bay player in the maul.

The committee found the act reckless and suspended Taumalolo from the beginning of the Hawke's Bay club rugby season on April 1 to May 20.

If selected for Hawke's Bay's next season, Taumalolo will still be able to play in the new NPC premier division.

- NZPA