An English club Rugby player has been banned for five years after blinding an opponent in one eye.
Callum Jennings, who plays for Whitehaven, had his ban increased from a year and a half for an illegal handoff on Aspatria RFC’s Alan Hedworth on 24 October, 2009.
He was charged with “an unlawful hand-off in that it had been made with an outstretched hand, or extended finger or fingers.”
“After hearing expert medical and rugby law opinion, the charge was amended to one of striking,†an RFU statement said.
“The panel found the act, which caused Hedworth to be blinded in his left eye, to be at the top end of offending. Jennings can play again on March 17, 2015.”
