A WELSH Districts player has been banned from playing rugby for six years after he kicked an opponent in the head, causing him injuries which required 44 stitches.
Sean Gibson, a back row forward for Hartridge HSOB, had only just returned after the Welsh Districts Rugby Union (WDRU) imposed an indefinite ban on him for an accumulation of sendings off.
Gibson kicked the former Abertillery centre Andrew Rice, who was appearing for Caerleon against Hartridge in a Newport and District Cup quarter final match.
Rice, who received serious head injuries, has dropped an assault complaint as he preferred the rugby authorities to deal with the case. Rice has now retired from the game.
The Caerleon Hartridge match was abandoned after only 20 minutes play after fighting broke out, and has been awarded to Caerleon who were leading at the time.
Another Hartridge forward, Robert Taylor, has been suspended for 10 weeks by the WDRU for headbutting a player and fighting with the Caerleon touch judge in the same match. Both clubs have also been fined.
