Highfield player cleared of wrongdoing

Rugby: Allegations of eye-gouging against a Highfield player, in an incident which led to Boyne’s Eoin Collins losing the sight…

Rugby:Allegations of eye-gouging against a Highfield player, in an incident which led to Boyne's Eoin Collins losing the sight in his right eye, have been withdrawn by the Co Louth club. Collins suffered the injury at the end of an AIL Division Two game between the clubs on December 12th and is receiving ongoing treatment to restore vision in his eye.

A Highfield player was cited by Boyne after the match but, having studied video evidence which was provided by Highfield at an IRFU hearing last week, the Drogheda club decided against pursuing any complaint. The Highfield player in question has been told he has no case to answer.

“Boyne RFC wish to confirm that the citation made by it on December 13th . . . has been withdrawn,” the IRFU said in a statement.

“While Boyne RFC originally believed there was sufficient evidence for the citing of a Highfield player, it now confirms that in the intervening period a review has taken place of additional evidence, including a high definition video provided by Highfield RFC, as a result of which Boyne RFC are satisfied that the Highfield player cited did not contribute in any way to the serious eye injury suffered by its player, Eoin Collins.

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“Boyne RFC would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the cited player for the distress and inconvenience which the citation has inevitably caused him and his club.”