Biting, eye-gouging and ref abuse: The longest bans in rugby union history
Bans are something that receive a lot of attention these days in rugby, particularly due to how arbitrary and inconsistent they can be.
England’s Joe Marler is one player that has made headlines in recent weeks, receiving a ten-week ban in fairly unique circumstances for his notorious grab of Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, and controversy ensued.
But by the standards of modern rugby, Marler’s ban is fairly insignificant. There are many others who have had a much longer absence from the game for acts of foul play on the field.
Names like Chris Jones and Michel Palmie echo through the amateur era for all the wrong reasons, but there are those in the professional game that join them.
So here are some of the worst rugby bans in the professional era:
9. Julien Dupuy
Stade Francais’ encounter with Ulster at Ravenhill in 2009 will long be remembered as a game with some of the most heinous acts of foul play in the modern era.
Former France scrum-half Julien Dupuy was one player to fall on the wrong side of the law that game, and was given a 24-week ban for his contact with the eye area of Stephen Ferris, which was later reduced to 23-weeks.
8. Kevin Yates
Despite pleading his innocence, former England prop Kevin Yates was handed a six-month ban by the RFU in 1998 for biting the ear of London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn.
The bite occurred after a collapsed scrum, and the flanker subsequently required 25 stitches to his ear. However, there was no visual evidence of the bite, which may explain why the ban was only six months, as there were many demands for it to be longer.
7. Neil Back
Rugby World Cup winning flanker Neil Back may be more famous for what he got away with on a rugby field than for what he was punished for, but he was on the receiving end of a six-month ban in 1996.
This came after Leicester Tigers’ loss to Bath in the Pilkington Cup final, where he pushed referee Steve Lander to the ground. Back insisted that he mistook Lander for Bath flanker Andy Robinson, but the ban still stood.
The Springboks centurion and RWC winner was not famous for his brushes with the law throughout his career, but he received a two-year ban in 2003 for pushing a touch judge over whilst playing for Newport.
The ban had 18 months suspended, which meant the South African was only absent for six months, but he still missed the Springboks’ RWC campaign later that year.
5. Calum Clark
Saracens flanker Calum Clark was handed a 32-week ban in 2012 while a Northampton Saint for hyper-extending Leicester Tigers hooker Rob Hawkins’ arm. Watching the offence again is not for the faint-hearted, as Hawkins suffered a fractured elbow and was in visible agony.
Such a felony could have warranted a five-year ban, so the one-cap England flanker could have deemed himself lucky for only receiving 32 weeks, as there were many who thought it should have been longer.
4. Sebastien Rouet
Following a melee after Belgium’s 18-10 victory over Spain in March 2018, Spanish scrum-half Sebastien Rouet was handed a 43-week ban for physically and verbally abusing Romanian referee Vlad Iordachescu.
The controversy arose as members of the Spain team felt the referee had intentionally inhibited them from winning as it gave Romania automatic qualification, which was later withdrawn for other reasons. This proved to be highly controversial and an investigation was launched.
The former Bayonne halfback, who was a substitute on this occasion, was not the only one to be banned, as four of his teammates also copped lengthy punishments, including a 36-week ban for starting scrum-half Guillaume Rouet. Both players have played for their country since the bans.
3. David Attoub
Former Stade Francais prop David Attoub was another player in the ill-famed fixture against Ulster to be punished, and this was yet again for gouging. Former Ireland international Ferris was the victim again for this transgression, and footage of the gouge is shuddering.
While Dupuy’s crime was certainly bad, Attoub’s was despicable beyond measure. There was simply no excuse for his actions, and he was subsequently banned for 70 weeks, partly due to a previous gouging punishment.
This was during a time where there was an increasing number of gouging offences, which has abated in recent years, but the four-cap Frenchman’s ban showed the price players will pay.
2. Dean Richards
While Dean Richards was not strictly playing when the infamous Bloodgate scandal occurred, it was still on the field of play and was orchestrated by the former Harlequins coach.
The ploy, which revolved around blood capsules from a joke shop, saw Richards receive a three-year ban from rugby following the incident during Harlequins’ fixture with Leinster in 2009. Tom Williams, who came off with the fake blood injury in order for Nick Evans to return to the field of play, was also banned for twelve months, but that was reduced to four after an appeal.
1. Trevor Brennan
When former Toulouse lock Trevor Brennan jumped into the crowd and struck a fan in 2007 during a fixture against Ulster at the Stade Ernest Wallon, there were always going to be severe repercussions.
The 13-cap Ireland international had a reputation for being somewhat irascible, but this was unseen, and he was given a life ban from rugby. That was reduced to a five-year ban shortly after, but it still signaled the end of his career.
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments