KEY POINTS:
It seems like only yesterday that I was writing an article about a Chiefs player appearing before the courts.
In fact, it was February 4, 2006, after Sione Lauaki had received diversion for a stoush with a security guard.
Back then I pointed out that a few Chiefs
were getting into trouble: over four years one player was acquitted of assault on a woman despite the judge saying "there was every possibility the incident took place"; another player was convicted, fined and given community service for assault and obstructing police; a players' end-of-year dinner ended in a stoush; and Lauaki.
Here we are 14 months later and another Chiefs player has been added to the growing roll of angry young men from the Waikato.
Sitiveni Sivivatu's name was released by the Hamilton District Court last week after he admitted assaulting his wife during an argument.
I've heard some people on talkback - mainly men - argue it was only a slap and should never have got to court, but this was a big man hitting a woman in the face. I don't know people who do that, and I don't understand people who try to argue that hitting a woman in the face - indeed, hitting anyone in the face - is justifiable.
Still, Sivivatu received a penalty in accordance with the circumstances. First offence, and his wife tried to withdraw the charges, and a conviction would probably have led to him losing his job.
As it is, he won't be doing his chances of wearing the black jersey any good. There are plenty of young men who escape conviction on domestic assault charges; it's just that we don't hear about them.
Sivivatu will forever be known as "the one who hit his wife" and that's probably not how he once thought he would be remembered.
As for the Chiefs, it would be nice if they saved their hard-man antics for the field. One more loss on the rugby paddock I can live with.
One more Chief appearing in court, and the red, yellow and black scarf goes in the rubbish bin.
I'd like the colours of the mighty Waikato to conjure up the image of honest, old-fashioned rugby - the values of the majority of the men who have, and do, play for them. I don't want the red, yellow and black to be conjuring up the image of a bruise.
