Thursday Round-Up

Reds Ban Hunt: Super Rugby franchise the Queensland Reds have handed their utility back Karmichael Hunt a six week ban and fined him AUS$30,000, after seeing their star player plead guilty in court to drug charges. Having been brought before the courts having been caught in possession of 12.5 grams of the recreational drug back in September 2014, Hunt accepted the charges brought against him and was forced to pat AUS$2,500 to the court system. After being banned for two weeks by the Reds prior to the court hearing, Hunt’s additional ban will see him sidelined until Round 8 of Super Rugby Action. However, during the period up to and including the 22nd of March, Hunt will be allowed to train at The Reds’ Ballymore facility, provided the first team squad are not training at the same time. Hunt, a former star of the Australian National Rugby League, the world’s premier Rugby League tournament, joined the Brisbane based franchise at the start of this season and featured in the opening rounds of action. In addition to the fines and suspensions imposed upon Hunt, the former Rugby league star will be stripped of the Reds’ vice-captaincy upon his return to the squad.

Naka to appeal: Glasgow Warriors second row forward Leo Nakarawa has confirmed his appeal against the decision to suspend him from all rugby for a period of three weeks. Having been found guilty of striking an opponent with his head during the Guinness Pro12 clash between Glasgow and Welsh outfit the Ospreys, Nakarawa will now attempt to get his sentence reduced significantly. The incident, which occurred on the 21st of Feburary of this year, will now be appealed at a hearing before an independent Pro12 Appeal committee, during the week commencing March 9th.

Ryan Sheady