Southern midfielder Setu Junior Tupu (23), who failed to show up to a judicial hearing on July 5, was found to have acted dangerously by kneeing a Kaikorai player in a vulnerable position during a premier development game on July 1.
According to a witness statement, a Kaikorai player had gone in to score unopposed and was still getting back to his feet when Tupu "dived towards the Kaikorai winger leading with his knees".
The player was taken to hospital and sustained "four cracked ribs".
The three-year ban is believed to be the longest handed out in Otago rugby since a Crescent player was banned from playing the sport for life in 2019 for punching a referee.
Tupu has previous form at the judiciary. He was suspended for five weeks last year after making contact with an opponent’s head while playing for Southern against Green Island.
But instead of serving out the ban, he registered with Zingari-Richmond, where he was red-carded for making contact with the head again and stood down for a further 14 weeks.
Despite remaining registered with Zingari-Richmond, he popped up at Southern this season and played about four games for the club.
The judiciary panel felt Tupu’s offending was at the "high end". It also felt his failure to attend the judicial hearing, despite Southern making every effort to reach the player, and his recent poor disciplinary record made it important to send a strong message of deterrence.
Tupu, who was represented by Southern club captain Andrew Campbell in his absence, has until tomorrow to lodge an appeal.
Southern Rugby Football Club chairman Blair Crawford told the Otago Daily Times he accepted the finding and the length of the ban.
"There is no place in the game for his poor discipline and actions."
Kaikorai captain Mitch Pryde said the club was satisfied with both the process and the outcome.
"I think the Otago Rugby [Football] Union has handled it very well."
The three-year ban was a strong deterrent, he said.
