Sanctions for officials who entered rugby field

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A THREE-MAN Poverty Bay Rugby Union judiciary committee has imposed sanctions on four premier club officials — two from Pirates and two from Ngatapa — following an incident in last Friday night’s premier match at Rugby Park.

But the sanctions on the Ngatapa officials will not be made public, following an appeal by Ngatapa.

“We have received an appeal from Ngatapa, which is within their rights, and the club has requested name and sanctions suppression until the appeals have been heard,” said Poverty Bay Rugby Union chief executive Marty Davis.

Ngatapa president Stephen Thomson said the club would definitely appeal one sanction and were looking at appealing the other.

“Our guys are extrememly embarrassed but until they have been proven guilty, we don’t think there is any need for their names to be ‘slandered’,” Thomson said.

“Until the appeal is heard, hopefully next week, I won’t be making any further comment.”

Pirates coach Steve Smith, one of the officals involved, along with “water boy” Jordan Cooper, said Pirates would not appeal their one-match bans.

“We breached the laws of the game by going on to the field of play and we have to accept the judiciary decisions,” Smith said.

“I’ve certainly learned my lesson and won’t be making the same mistake again.”

Smith has handed over the coaching reins for tomorrow’s match against OBM at Rugby Park to captain and No.8 Ken Houkamau and second five-eighth TK Moeke.

“I won’t have any involvement with the team until after the game,” he said.

All four officials went on to the field following a scuffle involving players from both sides in the second half.

It resulted in one Ngatapa official being sent from the technical area.

Ngatapa coach Will Faulks said: “The initial judgment from the judiciary looks bad for Ngatapa. But we are confident that we have a strong case to appeal.

“Until that appeal is heard I have nothing to add.”