A Canterbury club rugby player who strangled an opponent and punched him in the testicles has been banned for four years. Ilalio had only returned to the field two week earlier, from a ban for foul play in 2018. The referee then noticed what was happening and blew his whistle, and a Prebbleton player tackled Ilalio to free Lancaster. Lancaster said: "I think four years off rugby should help learn the lesson, I don't think going to the police is necessary." "Up until now we've had one of the best track records of on field and off field behavior," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 28, 2019 21:22 UTC