Rugby: Chisholm out for five weeks for striking

A former Bay of Plenty Steamers player has been suspended for five-weeks for striking another player only a year after being the victim of a similar incident.

Te Puke Sports player Simon Chisholm was given the five-week suspension from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Judicial Committee after hitting out at an opposition player in a match against Tauranga Sports on April 27.

Chisholm has the right to appeal the sentence.

Chisholm sustained a brain injury and was unable to play rugby for months after being knocked out by Te Puna player Uenuku Pieta during a game at Maramatanga Park on July 21 last year.

Pieta, a farmhand, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to injure and was sentenced to 200 hours' community work and ordered to pay $500 reparation.

He was also banned from playing for 12 months.

Following Pieta's sentencing, Chisholm labelled the Te Puna player a "coward". "There are people out there that think doing this kind of thing is acceptable. People don't realise their actions and what they can do to people," he said at the time.

A Bay of Plenty Rugby Union release said, after reviewing Chisholm's offence, they categorised it to be at the mid range of the scale of seriousness for striking another player with your hand, arm or fist. "After considering aggravating and mitigating factors the judicial committee suspended Simon Chisholm for five weeks meaning he will next be able to play on Sunday 2 June, 2013," the release said.

Te Puke Sports coach Craig Jeffries told the Bay of Plenty Times it seemed an excessive penalty. "It was a nothing incident and it has been blown out of all proportion," he said. "It is an over-reaction and seems harsh. They have given lesser penalties out for offences when people have been hit."