Three weeks for 'several deliberate' punches

NEW ZEALAND DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Hawke’s Bay’s Sona Taumalolo has been suspended for three weeks.

He was cited after his team’s Ranfurly Shield defence last Sunday, November 8.

The incident occurred late in the second half of the match against Wellington, with Taumalolo deliberately striking an opposition player several times.

Duty judicial officer Nigel Hampton deemed his actions to be intentional and deliberate – with a starting point sanction of six weeks.

The sanction was reduced to three weeks on account of Taumalolo’s early admission of wrongdoing, expression of regret and a good judicial record over a long career.

Taumalolo will miss the remainder of New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.