Counties physiotherapist sanctioned

A Counties Manukau NPC team physiotherapist was issued a five-match suspension, following a misconduct hearing.

This follows his behaviour towards assistant referees during the Week Four match against Auckland at Eden Park on September 4.

Judicial officer Chris Morris has released his full decision on a misconduct charge against Daniel Halliday.

Morris said submissions from match officials stated that Halliday abused and swore at both assistant referees during the match and accused them of bias.

The situation was aggravated when one of the assistant referees responded, causing Halliday "to lose his temper further".

In his decision Morris said: "It was still entirely inappropriate for Halliday to conduct himself in the way he did.

"Running the sideline is a privileged position and on this occasion was used as an opportunity to continually abuse a match official."

He issued a five-week match-day ban, noting that two matches had already been self-imposed.

Of the five weeks, four would be full match day suspensions and the final fifth match would be a sideline suspension only.

Morris also imposed a three-week full match-day ban, to be suspended and only activated if there is further misconduct before the end of next year’s NPC season.