Rugby

Wigan Warriors’ Ben Flower banned for 6 months

Prop sent of for punching Lance Hohaia two minutes into Super Rugby Grand Final against St Helens

Wigan Warriors prop Ben Flower arrives for a disciplinary hearing at the headquarters of the Rugby Football League in Leeds where he was banned for six months. Photograph: Andrew Yates / Reuters

Tue Oct 14 2014 - 18:28

Ben Flower has been given a six-month ban for the punches that marred the Super League Grand Final.

The Rugby Football League’s disciplinary tribunal took just half-an-hour to come up with the punishment after Flower admitted the Grade F offence.

The RFL announced the verdict via its Twitter account: “Ben Flower of WiganWarriorsRL banned until April 14th, 2015, after being found guilty of Grade F violent and aggressive punching v Saints1890.”

Lance Hohaia (centre) of St Helens is helped off the field by medics after being punched by Ben Flower of Wigan Warriors, who was shown a red card during the First Utility Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Earlier, Lance Hohaia accepted a one-match ban for his forearm strike which sparked the punches from Flower.

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The 31-year-old New Zealand stand-off, who caught Flower off the ball, was knocked to the ground by the Wigan prop’s first punch and then lay motionless as Flower landed a second on his face.

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