Subbies rugby player hit with three-year ban after contact with referee in grand final

The NSW Suburban Rugby Union has handed down a three-year suspension to Hunters Hill first grade captain Cooper Henwood after he was found guilty of making contact with referee Max Fulton in last Saturday’s Division One grand final against Waverley.

The union’s independent judiciary panel sat on Wednesday evening after an incident in the final play of the Kentwell Cup decider at Concord Oval, in which a scuffle broke out after Fulton blew a penalty to effectively end the game.

Vision of the game shows the referee clutching his face after contact from Henwood, who was tussling with a Waverley player next to Fulton.

The judiciary panel accepted Henwood’s contact with Fulton had not been deliberate and the player was deeply remorseful. But the Hunters Hill player was found guilty of the charge of making contact with a match official, and given a 42-match suspension, which amounts to three years based on the 14-match regular season in the Subbies’ top competition.

A NSW Suburban Rugby Union spokesman confirmed the suspension had been handed down.

“The Union’s judiciary last night found the charge of contact with a match official proven,” the spokesman said in a statement.

“The maximum recommended penalty for this charge is 52 matches. Taking into account the player’s previously unblemished record and genuine remorse, the judiciary applied a 10-match reduction and suspended the player for 42 matches. Under the current competition structure this would effectively be a three-year suspension.”

Commentary from NSW Rugby TV captured the immediate reaction to the incident as players from both sides tangled.

“What has happened there? What in the world just happened?” commentator Anthony Deep said as it unfolded live.

An experienced community referee, Fulton made his Shute Shield debut four years ago and sits on the NSW Referees Welfare subcommittee. He also officiated the World Military Championships final three years ago through his work as a medical officer with the Australian Army.

The NSW Suburban Rugby Union oversees multiple divisions of amateur competitions that sit below the Shute Shield and Sydney premiership lower grades.

Hunters Hill had made a strong start to the final, leading 14-7 at Concord Oval, before Waverley surged back and held on to win their first Kentwell premiership since 1991.

The NSW Suburban Rugby Union code of conduct references the importance of respecting officials in its strictly amateur competitions, stating: “During the course of or after a match under the jurisdiction of the NSWSRU, a player, member, coach, manager, committee member, official, supporter or spectator, sponsor, or any other person associated with a NSWSRU Club, shall not abuse or address a referee or assistant referee in insulting terms, or act in a provocative manner towards a referee or assistant referee.”