New Zealand rugby union North Harbour flanker Troy Flavell (20) was yesterday suspended for a year for eye gouging.

A judicial committee of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union found Flavell deliberately gouged the right eye of Wellington winger Steve Skinnon during last Saturday's first division match at Athletic Park in Wellington.

Skinnon appeared before the committee and said he thought he had received a finger in the eye, but did not allege it was intentional. He said he had suffered double vision briefly after the match.