‘My actions were unacceptable’: Australian women’s rugby captain is banned for six games after admitting to BITING an opponent during a ruck
- Queensland hooker and captain Liz Patu bit RugbyWA lock Rebecca Clough
- Patu was banned for six weeks on Monday at a Rugby Australia hearing
- She said: ‘I’d like to express my remorse. I apologise to Rebecca Clough’
The Australian women’s rugby captain has been banned for six games for biting an opponent on the arm.
Queensland hooker Liz Patu was caught on camera biting RugbyWA lock Rebecca Clough at the bottom of a ruck during a match on Sunday.
Patu was banned for six weeks on Monday at a Rugby Australia hearing.
The Queensland hooker and captain was seen biting RugbyWA second-rower Rebecca Clough’s wrist at the base of a ruck in a match on Sunday
She said: ‘I’d like to express my remorse. I apologise to Rebecca Clough, the Rugby WA Women’s team, my own teammates and the wider Rugby public,’ Patu said in a statement.
‘I’ve played club, state and international Rugby and previously haven’t committed an act such as this and I accept my punishment.
‘When I return to play I will ensure that the game is played in the right spirit and do what I can to promote the Women’s game in a positive manner.
‘My actions the other night were unacceptable and will not be repeated.’
Commentator Drew Mitchell said: ‘That is disgusting and it’s not a part of our game, especially from an Australian representative and a captain at that’
After the bite match commentator and former Wallabies back Drew Mitchell said: ‘That’s pretty damning from that vision we’ve just seen.’
‘I think we will hear more and we should. That is disgusting and it’s not a part of our game, especially from an Australian representative and a captain at that,’ he commented.
The incident was reported to match referee Lara West by Clough in the 71st minute of the game as she said: ‘Ref, I’m just saying, I’ve been bitten.’
West didn’t see the incident and was not allowed to use replays to view the footage because not all venues have screens.
She called on Reds Captain Kiri Lingman who said: ‘She showed me her arm with bite marks. I didn’t see it, so I can’t call it. If I do see it, that person is gone.’
Queensland currently sit top of the table after two wins and two bonus points. They won the match on Sunday 28-3.
Patu was banned for six weeks on Monday at a Rugby Australia hearing on Monday