Harrison suspended for three matches - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Harrison suspended for three matches

21/03/2005 05:38:20 AM Comments (0)

NSW Waratahs lock Justin Harrison has been suspended for three Super 12 matches for his racial slur against the Cats in South Africa last week.

The penalty includes Saturday night's win over the Stormers in Sydney after the 30-year-old voluntarily stood down pending the result of his three-man judicial hearing at ARU headquarters in Sydney.

Harrison was fined $20,000, but will escape the penalty if he completes an anti-discrimination course run by the anti-discrimination board of NSW and 30 hours of community service.

Harrison accepted the decision, after speculation that the he may have been rubbed out of the game for up to six months.

"Tonight I received a fair and just hearing in front of the SANZAR judicial committee. The sentence I have been given is fair and just," Harrison said.

"I am profoundly sorry for what has happened over the last week of events and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make amends for a situation I am terribly apologetic for."

Harrison received written letters of character from Cats winger Chumani Booi, the man he admitted to racially abusing in last weekend's Super 12 match in Johannesburg, and also several Wallaby team-mates.

His legal counsel, Rugby Union Players Association chairman Tony Dempsey, said the suspension would cost the Wallaby second rower $9000 in match payments and $11,000 all up.

NSW rugby union chief executive Fraser Neill said his organisation would not consider any further sanction of Harrison.

Dempsey and Neill apart, Harrison was supported at the three hour hearing by Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie and team manager Dave Gibson.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news