The opening round of Australia's National Rugby Championship has been marred by an alleged bite to the ear by Fijian Drua hooker Samu Suguturaga against Brisbane City at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday. Suguturaga has since been cited.
Playing in their first ever match in the expanded NRC, the Fijian Drua team went down 45-36 in Brisbane, but will take some heart from scoring a flurry of tries late in the game.
In the first half an ear-biting claim disrupted things momentarily though.
Hooker Samu Suguturaga will face a NRC judicial hearing after being cited for an alleged bite to the ear of his opposite number, Brisbane City skipper Andrew Ready, during a scrum.
Ready reported the incident to the on-field referee immediately, but despite the blood and clear bite marks, there was insufficient evidence at the time, and the match continued. The hooker has since received stitches.
"I'm lucky he was wearing a mouthguard otherwise he would have had the whole thing (ear)," Ready said post match. "It’s pretty disgusting and shouldn’t be in the game. The ref said he didn’t see it so it’s with the officials now."
The judicial hearing will take place at the Queensland Rugby Union offices at Ballymore on Tuesday night (5 September) and will be overseen by judicial officer Paul Tully.
UPDATE: Suguturaga has been banned for 20 weeks following his disciplinary hearing
credit: fox sports au
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