Retallick 'speared' for two weeks
Bay of Plenty lock Culum Retallick has been suspended from rugby for two weeks, following a judicial hearing on a charge of foul play from his team's NPC match against Hawke's Bay last weekend.
Retallick was cited under rugby law 10.4 (j): For lifting and tipping a player dangerously – eight minutes into the first half of the Week Three fixture in Tauranga on Sunday.
Bay of Plenty won 24–20.
Judicial officer Nigel Hampton upheld the citing, but said that Retallick's actions were at the low end of offending.
Although it was not a deliberate or pre-meditated act, a combination of factors had led to the action being dangerous.
Hampton took into account Retallick's good conduct at the hearing, his long career and relatively clean record when considering the sanction.
Hampton considered there were no aggravating factors and several mitigating factors so he had discretion to half the lower end sanction and gave a two week suspension.
Retallick is suspended from all rugby for two weeks, up to an including Sunday 8 September.
He will miss Bay of Plenty's matches against Auckland and Wellington.
