A rugby player was yesterday jailed for 15 months for violently stamping on the head of an opponent during a match.

Rhys Garfield, 22, of Pontycymmer, Wales, caused a 10cm wound in the head of Gareth Howells, 21, which needed 30 stitches.

Garfield was playing for his village side in December 2005 when the assault happened.

Recorder Gareth Jones at Swansea Crown Court jailed Garfield after telling him his behaviour was "wholly unacceptable".

Last month at the same court a jury found Garfield guilty of unlawful wounding.

The jury at his trial cleared him of a more serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial heard Howells was playing in the secondrow for Glynneath while Garfield was Pontycymer's number eight. A ruck developed when Howells went to ground following a lineout. Garfield was then seen deliberately to stamp on the head of Howells.

Andrew Davies, defending, asked the judge to consider a suspended sentence and said Garfield had led an otherwise blameless life.

But Jones rejected the plea and said only a custodial sentence would be appropriate.