Hurricanes second five eighth Ma’a Nonu’s one week ban following a SANZAR judicial hearing this week, will be served out during his team’s next match against the Chiefs on 12 March.
SANZAR Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton QC clarified that the one week suspension handed to Nonu on Monday 21 February was intended to render him ineligible to play in the match that was scheduled to be played against the Crusaders in Wellington on Saturday 26 February.
Today’s clarification follows the cancellation of that match in the wake of the earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday.
In a written supplementary ruling today Mr Hampton said that the decision by the Crusaders to not travel to Wellington for their round two fixture, would effectively result in Nonu being eligible to play rugby without serving any effective sanction.
“That would be wrong. A suspension from playing rugby must be a real one, and not a notional one,” Mr Hampton said in his ruling.
The Hurricanes have a ‘bye’ in Week 3 and Mr Hampton said that to make the suspension effective, Nonu’s ban would now be extended up to, and including, Monday 14 March, effectively making his suspension served by missing the Hurricanes v Chiefs match at Westpac Stadium on 12 March.
Nonu has the right to appeal this decision.
Damn, this was already my 1187th Article here on R-T!
I don’t think it is right to extend Nonu’s suspension.
Look at it this way.
If the match this week went on to be played, Nonu’s suspension would have been oevr and he would have had two weeks to prepare with his team for the match against the Chiefs.
Now, since the Crusaders decided they will not travel to Wellington this weekend, Nonu is not permitted to play against the Chiefs, two weeks later, which effectively makes him banned for three weeks, since he not cannot train with his squad until after the Chiefs game, giving him only one week to prepare for the Blues game.
I understand they want him to miss out on a match, but is it his fault that there was an earthquake?
2@ Met Uysh:
Yes, agree with you, but I suppose that’s how the cookie crumbles.
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