Suspended: Andrew Hore
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New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore has been given a five-week suspension for striking Wales lock Bradley Davies last Saturday in Cardiff.
Hore was originally handed an eight-week suspension but had three weeks knocked off for his exemplary disciplinary record, good conduct at the hearing and genuine remorse over the incident.
Davies was forced to leave the field and sent to hospital following the blindside shot, with both fans and the media widely condemning Hore for his actions.
The ban means Hore will be unable to play again until 24 February 2013, meaning he will miss this weekend's Test against England at Twickenham along with all of the Highlanders pre-season matches and the first clash of the new Super Rugby season.
"I want to say how bad I feel and how embarrassed I am to be in this situation," Hore told the New Zealand Herald.
"It is not the All Black way and I have let myself down and the team and probably the whole country is pretty proud of what we do.
"I hope Bradley Davies does recover and get back up and running and play in the Heineken Cup as soon as he can.
"I have been on the phone and talked to him on Sunday about the incident and obviously the All Black management and the leader group that I am a part of has been pretty stern on me for getting us into this situation and I have to take what I have got and go back and start building a reputation as a good, clean, hard footy player and hopefully I can do that in the next Super Rugby competition when I get back playing."
Comments
Kiwidiver says...
You know what I'm impressed with here?!? With the exception of 7Redcards comment, everyone seems to be in agreement about the appropriateness of the punishment - even my old sparring partner APV.
It seems the only dissention is with regard to games vs weeks. SMV puts some good questions in this regard.
I'm truly encouraged by the agreement between my fellow AB's supporters and those who traditionally oppose them in these Blog's.
Posted 17:02 28th November 2012
rugbydaft says...
It's done dusted lets all just move on and most likely the last time he wil play for the blacks.
Posted 16:35 28th November 2012
Phill_Moore says...
@7redcard
Gougerie was not even cited, neither were Hartley and co. for their attacks on McCaw. Martin Johnson got 1 week for doing the same to Justin Marshall, etc...
But hey, please, never let the facts get in the way of your kindergarten boohoo conspiracy theories... :rolleyes:
Sounds about right as a ban. So how was it again that meathead-Greyling got only 2 weeks for elbowing McCaw in the face when he already had a disciplinary record? Yeah, love those kindergarten conspiracy theories from the cry-baby BokX trolls... LOL
Anyway, perfect opportunity to blood Coles, he's looking good and Hore is getting old anyway.
Posted 16:10 28th November 2012
Golden_statenba says...
Fair ban when you consider Greylings two weeks.
He might not be back for the ABs anyway.
If it had been seen on the day it should have been red but having seen the way the game went I think the ABs would have still won.
Anyway I'm sure it will be business as usual for the ABs send him home and continue as usual
Posted 15:52 28th November 2012
jontheref says...
Thank goodness that is put to bed.
Willy,
Have to agree, bans should be in games, not weeks.
Hope the replacement is as good.
Posted 15:44 28th November 2012
spike19 says...
Look at the grin on his face, he's practically assaulted another player putting him in hospital with concussion and he didn't even get carded during the game and now he misses one test, 3 pre season games which he wouldn't have played anyway and 1 super rugby game. Well played Mr Hore!
Posted 15:29 28th November 2012
chancer says...
He didn't look very remorseful just after the incident, more like a grin!
Posted 15:14 28th November 2012
HurricaneRats says...
The ban does takes into account the break from rugby in the off season. So this weekend vs England, 3 pre-season, and 1 Super 15 game = 5 games. Fair enough.
"The Judicial Officer received unreserved assurances from Ian Foster, Assistant Coach, New Zealand, the player and his legal representative that the pre-season matches to be played by the Highlanders during the weekends of 1, 8 and 15 February all had significant and meaningful consequences for the player in accordance with IRB Regulation 17."
Posted 15:07 28th November 2012
mayce says...
7redcards - are you joking? How long would you suggest? Show me a French or English ban of 10 weeks for a punch. I am not defending Hore as it was a plain stupid thing to do but put it in perspective and Timani got 1 week for a straight punch. Is it only bad to you if it is from an All Black or are certain punches okay to you? Get those blinkers off mate.
Posted 15:04 28th November 2012
gungehammer says...
What's not being reported here, and was somehow missed from all reports to date, is that he has been in daily contact with BD. Seems he preferred to talk to the other party rather than the press about any remorse.
Posted 15:04 28th November 2012
jose_jones says...
@rugby lover,... it is up to the refs to enforce the rules not the players,.. Bradly Davies was offside,.. so were alot of players during that game but only one player was knocked unconcious as punishment,..
Lets be fair, Hore is a seasoned professional and certainly no fool,.. if he had driven Davies into the ruck instead of handing out a forearm the AB's would have had a penalty and Hore would be playing next week.... there is nothing anyone can say to justify this,.. it was intentional, it was dirty and it was not necessary, It is just a shame that it went some way to tainting a great performance from a truly great side.
Everytime there is an incident like this we all crawl out from under our stone to take a side,.. well,.. for me this is defending the undefendable,.. like many before. Unless this kind of thing is stamped out in this game then a young player will end up losing his career,... or worse.
Posted 15:01 28th November 2012
irishinlondon says...
Seems about right, if not a touch harsh going on bans in the last few years, about the first one they have got right this autumn.
Willy and Craigsman, they may aswell be in matches as the off season is not included.
Posted 14:59 28th November 2012
SMV16 says...
For all those who always question why its weeks and not matches when the timing seems to favour the suspended player.
What games would count? Any that he is eligible for? Do you add matches if he is injured and then ineligible? Or what happens if you know he would have been rested for one or more games even though eligible? What if his club organises matches and he then counts these ones?
The system isn't anywhere near perfect and maybe they could set a standard of say 5 weeks but to include at least 2 competition games. But you can't write off the pre-season games as meaningless as they are important for him and his team.
Posted 14:51 28th November 2012
gleek says...
agree with Craigsman - 1 week, 5 weeks, 9 weeks - he is still only missing two games of any consequence. Bans should be of competitive matches - i.e he gets a 5 game ban (minus friendlies).
Swinging arm cheap shot from behind to the back of a player's head (something which is banned in both MMA and boxing as it is a weak spot) - he is a lucky boy to get such a short ban. Dangerous and malicious.
Posted 14:47 28th November 2012
Benny says...
5 weeks seems about right and what I was predicting. Anyone talking about a 6 month ban hasn't paid attention to any similar cases.
Posted 14:36 28th November 2012
daibok says...
Fair enough. This was a one-off and out of character so it seems reasonable.
Posted 14:32 28th November 2012
craigsman says...
I still don't know why the bans are in weeks rather than matches...
Posted 14:26 28th November 2012
connaughtabu says...
5 weeks seems about right - it was more a reckless swinging arm than a punch.
Posted 14:23 28th November 2012
jose_jones says...
I think the "half grin" says it all really.
Posted 14:22 28th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Quite fair all in all. Might have been a week or 2 shorter without all the trial by media nonsense.
Posted 14:14 28th November 2012