Nov 28, 2014
Canadian rugby player Barkwill banned nine weeks for incident during match
Canadian hooker Ray Barkwill has been banned for nine weeks for making contact with an opponent's eye during a rugby test match against Romania.
The Canadian Press
DUBLIN - Canadian hooker Ray Barkwill has been banned for nine weeks for making contact with an opponent's eye during a rugby test match against Romania.
World Rugby says the offence carries an entry-point suspension of 12 weeks but was reduced because of mitigating factors, including Barkwill's previously clean disciplinary record.
The incident occurred in Canada's 18-9 loss in Bucharest on Saturday in the last match of its end-of-year tour of Europe.
The 34-year-old Barkwill, from Niagara Falls, Ont., is not currently playing for a pro club.
From the same match, Romania forward Mihai Macovei received a six-week suspension for striking an opponent in the face with his forearm.