Melbourne Rebels lock Adam Byrnes has been slapped with a 10 week ban from playing Super Rugby after he was found guilty of eye gouging.
rugbyweek
Russian international Byrnes was found guilty of eye gouging during a Super rugby match against the New South Wales Waratahs.
SANZAR judicial officer Paul Tully imposed the ban after a lengthy hearing on Sunday, the Australian Associated Press reported.
Byrnes was cited for making contact with the eye of Waratahs center Tom Carter in Friday night’s match at Melbourne following a complaint from Waratahs captain Daniel Halangahu.
Tully said there was enough evidence to support Carter’s allegation that contact had been made with Carter’s right eye and bridge of his nose in the course of a ruck.
Byrnes, who played for Russia at last year’s World Cup, will be unavailable until May 20.