Baker faces ban for referee abuse

A number of misconduct hearings, along with a judicial hearing, will take place at the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) offices in Wellington on Wednesday, following incidents in two separate games over the weekend.

Manawatu fullback Kurt Baker has been charged with misconduct for allegedly verbally abusing and threatening assistant referee Zarne Johnson in the Air NZ Cup match between Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu in Napier on Saturday, September 26.
 
Manawatu trainer Paul Hamson has also been charged with misconduct after allegedly verbally abusing Johnson.

In the Heartland Championship, King Country coach Brett Coombe has also been charged with misconduct for allegedly verbally abusing match officials in the match between South Canterbury and King Country in Timaru on Saturday.

Meanwhile, King Country centre James Hemara will appear before a Judicial Hearing for an alleged dangerous tackle in the match. Hemara was cited by Citing Commissioner Steve Hinds for the tackle on South Canterbury scrumhalf Sekope Maea.

The hearings into the various incidents will be held at the NZRU offices in Wellington on Wednesday, before judicial officer Bruce Squire.