Australian rugby league player Corey Norman has been given an eight-game suspension and fined for "internationally placing a hand between the buttocks of an opposing player," the Rugby Football League announced on Wednesday.
The incident occurred between Toulouse's Norman and Warrington Wolves' Oliver Holmes during the two teams' match last Thursday.
The 31-year-old Norman, who spent 11 years playing in Australia's National Rugby League before joining Toulouse in April, pled not guilty to the offense.
But tribunal chair Justice Sarah Wright and the two side members, both former players, were "entirely satisfied" the act was intentional.
SOCIAL REACTION:
One fan wrote: "The thrill of victory, and the agony of the cheeks."
"8 games for checking an opponent’s oil seems like an awfully light suspension." another added.
A third commented: "He should have had a cheeky sniff of his finger afterwards to top it all off."
"Did the ref rewatch it on the VARse to confirm or did he just sniff the fella’s finger?" a fourth added.
Another wrote: "When muscle memory comes out at the wrong time."
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Most banned England players:
#5. Joe Marler - 23 weeks
In 2016, he received a two-week ban following the “gypsy boy” saga, involving Wales’ Samson Lee, which erupted out of the Six Nations game at Twickenham.
The same penalty was to follow a couple of months later after he was cited for kicking Grenoble hooker Arnaud Héguy while playing for Harlequins in the European Challenge Cup semi-final.
Marler was then banned for three weeks in October 2017 after striking Wasps and now Wales lock Will Rowlands with an elbow and for six weeks later that same season for a shoulder charge on Sale’s TJ Ioane.
And, of course, just last month he was suspended for ten weeeks for grabbing the genitals of Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones in the Six Nations encounter at Twickenham.
#4. Danny Grewcock - 28 weeks
A second row with something of a short fuse. Picked up a five-week ban after being sent off for kicking All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver in a Test in Dunedin in 1998, two weeks for punching Lawrence Dallaglio in a club match in 2003, two months for biting All Black hooker Keven Mealamu during the first Lions Test in 2005, six weeks for punching French lock Thibault Privat in 2007 and seven weeks for stamping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in 2010. Knew his way to the disciplinary offices!
#3. Neil Back - Seven months in total
England flanker Back was in big trouble from the moment he pushed referee Steve Lander to the ground on the final whistle of Leicester’s 1996 Pilkington Cup final defeat against Bath. He maintained he had mistaken Lander for Bath back-rower Andy Robinson, but it didn’t wash and he was handed a six month ban. In 2005, he picked up a four-week ban for punching Wasps’ Joe Worsley in the Zurich Grand Final.
#2. Calum Clark - 32 weeks
This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final. The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea.
#1. Dylan Hartley - 60 weeks in total
Take a deep breath.
- In April 2007, the Northampton hooker was banned for 26 weeks for gouging Wasps duo James Haskell and Jonny O’Connor.
- In March 2012, he was suspended for eight weeks for biting Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris while on England duty at Twickenham.
- In December 2012, he was handed a two-week ban for striking Ulster’s Rory Best.
- In May 2013, he was suspended for 11 weeks for abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the Saints’ Premiership final defeat to Leicester, missing the Lions tour of Australia as a result.
- In December 2014, he was banned for three weeks for elbowing Tigers wing Matt Smith, and then in May of 2015 he was suspended for four weeks for butting his Saracens opposite number Jamie George, which led to him being dropped from England’s World Cup plans.
- In 2016, he caught Leinster’s Sean O’Brien to the head with a swinging arm from behind, picking up a red card which was followed by a six-week ban.
