'I should have torn it off so I could say I returned to South Africa with the guy's ear'
British & Irish Lions prop Kyle Sinckler tomorrow protests his innocence at a World Rugby disciplinary hearing following his second test citing for an alleged bite on Franco Mostert.
Should the Bristol Bears prop be found guilty he will face a minimum ban of 12 weeks.
While biting cases remain extremely rare, precedent does exist – here is a selection of historic cases to get your teeth into…
DANNY GREWCOCK
A renowned ‘enforcer’ the former Bath and England second row had many skirmishes with rugby’s authorities – including an incident which took place on the ill-fated 2005 Lions tour.
Grewcock copped a two-month ban for biting New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu’s finger which the disciplinary committee decided had inadvertently found its way into his mouth.
Grewcock maintained his innocence but had no choice but to miss the remainder of the trip.
JOHAN LE ROUX
South African prop Johan le Roux showed little contrition after being found guilty of biting All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick’s ear during a 1994 test match in Wellington.
The Beast (but not that one) as he was nicknamed was sent home by the South African management immediately after the match and received a hefty ban that wound up ending his career.
Infamously le Roux is later quoted as saying: “For an 18-month suspension, I feel I probably should have torn it off. Then at least I could say I’ve returned to South Africa with the guy’s ear.”
CHRIS ASHTON
The much-travelled former England winger received a 13-week ban in 2016 for biting Northampton prop Alex Waller.
Like a number of others in this list Ashton was no stranger to the disciplinary process – in fact this ban followed hot on the heels of a 13-week suspension for making contact with Ulster centre Luke Marshall’s eyes.
DYLAN HARTLEY
Former England captain Dylan Hartley could write a book on disciplinary hearings.
Among his many indiscretions, in 2012 he received eight weeks on the sidelines for taking a nibble of Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris’s finger during the Six Nations.
The incident was missed by the match officials, though referee Nigel Owens took note when Ferris showed him the bite marks.
LEONARDO SENATORE
The Argentinian forward had two bites of the cherry – of more accurately the opposition – during his chequered career.
In 2013 he received a nine-week ban for chomping on Springbok lock Ebe Etzebeth’s arm during a Rugby Championship clash.
Three years later the former Worcester Warrior received a ten-week suspension for biting Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel while playing for the Jaguares against the Sharks in Super Rugby.
Remarkably, the disciplinary committee began with a 12-week period, added two weeks because this was Senatore’s second biting offence, but then removed four weeks because of “the player’s good character.”
Calls for the axe to swing in this week's selection. #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries https://t.co/pjQWKF6w0N
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 2, 2021
KEVIN YATES
Despite pleading his innocence, Bath’s former England prop Kevin Yates received a six-month ban in 1998 for biting the ear of London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn following a collapsed scrum.
The back-rower subsequently required 25 stitches to his ear, but with no visual evidence found of the bite Yates’ ban was six months.
The man in charge, Ashley Rowden, commented: “In my experience as a referee, I’ve never experienced anything like it. The player was clearly missing some part of his ear lobe. There was a lot of blood.”
OBLIVIERO FABIANI
Biting is extremely difficult for a referee to pick up, so the Zebre hooker is somewhat unusual in having received a straight red card from this Saturday’s third test official Mathieu Raynal for biting Connacht lock Quinn Roux during a 2016 Champions Cup match in Parma. He subsequently received a nine-week ban.
SISA KOYAMAIBOLE
Bordeaux Begles’ Fijian No.8 – who also had a stint at Sale Sharks – was handed a 12-week ban for biting London Irish flanker Declan Danaher during a 2012 European Challenge Cup clash.
CAMERON REDPATH
Scotland’s Bath centre copped a three-month ban in 2019, when representing England Under-20’s.
Redpath was found guilty of sinking his teeth into opposition hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin during England’s 30-23 win over Ireland at the World U20 Championships in Argentina.
LIZ PATU
The captain of Australia’s women’s team was banned for six weeks after biting Rebecca Clough during a 2019 Super W match between Queensland and Rugby WA.
Clough alerted the referee by pointing to a bite mark on her arm made by her Walleroo teammate.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments