A Welsh rugby player has been handed a 192 week ban for verbally abusing an official during a recent rugby match.
Louis Jones, a player for Fairwater RFC, was given a second yellow card for allegedly slapping the cards out of a referee’s hands and verbally abusing him during his club’s 14-0 home defeat to Llanharan on January 7.
As a result of his actions, the Welsh Rugby Union has banned Jones under ‘law 9.28 – abuse of match official’ and suspended the back-row forward from participating in rugby for more than three-and-a-half years.
The same player was banned in 2018 for 96 weeks after accusing a referee of cheating before assaulting him.
Back row forward Jones was subsequently investigated after a complaint was made to South Wales Police.
He appeared before Merthyr Tydfil magistrates and admitted assault by beating.
Reacting to the second ban, one fan wrote: “Shame there wasn’t more anger management in between the bans. Players who can’t control themselves are a risk to themselves and everyone else.”
Another commented: “Some rugby does break out between the fighting when Fairwater are involved, tbf.”
A third wrote: “Their funding from the WRU should cease immediately. Not an asset to the community game.”