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Cape Town - A schools rugby player from Noord-Kaap High School has been banned from playing rugby for 80 weeks for foul play.
According to a report on the Beeld website, 18-year-old Luaan Dowie, who plays flank for his school's first team, will only be allowed to play rugby again in 2015 after punching a player from Waterkloof High School before also head-butting him.
The incident occurred two weeks ago when the schools clashed in Kimberley.
Arni van Rooyen, CEO of the Griqualand West Rugby Union, said the ban will send "a very strong message out that foul play like that won't be tolerated".
Juandré de Beer, Waterkloof's lock who suffered the attack, said the punishment is harsh but "one has to think twice before committing foul play".
De Beer described the incident: “It was early in the game. There was a ruck and I had to clean out the player (Dowie). When I turned around he pulled me back. I fell on my back.
"My hand scraped him during the fall. Then I felt a punch in the face. I stayed on the ground. He received a red card.
"Then he approached me again. I only saw him out the corner of my eye when the first aid people were already attending to me. He head-butted me on my lip and I fell. There were more punches, but I just held on to my head and closed my eyes.
"My head hurt and my lip was split open, but I played on. You always expect a tough game."
Dowie reportedly head-butted De Beer while the referee put the red card back in his sock. He claimed De Beer provoked him by poking him in the eye.
According to a report on the Beeld website, 18-year-old Luaan Dowie, who plays flank for his school's first team, will only be allowed to play rugby again in 2015 after punching a player from Waterkloof High School before also head-butting him.
The incident occurred two weeks ago when the schools clashed in Kimberley.
Arni van Rooyen, CEO of the Griqualand West Rugby Union, said the ban will send "a very strong message out that foul play like that won't be tolerated".
Juandré de Beer, Waterkloof's lock who suffered the attack, said the punishment is harsh but "one has to think twice before committing foul play".
De Beer described the incident: “It was early in the game. There was a ruck and I had to clean out the player (Dowie). When I turned around he pulled me back. I fell on my back.
"My hand scraped him during the fall. Then I felt a punch in the face. I stayed on the ground. He received a red card.
"Then he approached me again. I only saw him out the corner of my eye when the first aid people were already attending to me. He head-butted me on my lip and I fell. There were more punches, but I just held on to my head and closed my eyes.
"My head hurt and my lip was split open, but I played on. You always expect a tough game."
Dowie reportedly head-butted De Beer while the referee put the red card back in his sock. He claimed De Beer provoked him by poking him in the eye.
