Letterscolumn

A bit too harsh

SIR – I was deeply concerned to read about the sentence of 80 weeks suspension given to schoolboy rugby player Luaan Dowie, which I believe is unjust.

It is too harsh. Compare the sentence just handed out to rugby player Dylan Hartly. In the English Premiership final, screened all over the world, he called the referee “a f*****g cheat”. He was banned for only 11 weeks.

Another example involved a great South African flank. In 2009 he was found guilty of eye gouging and banned for just eight weeks. Graham Henry, the previous NZ coach, recently insulted an assistant referee by saying “he must be blind” in a television interview. His punishment? Please apologise.

Eighty weeks suspension for a schoolboy rugby player must be a world record. It seems a bit like trying to kill a mosquito with a bulldozer. It is too harsh.

The disciplinary committee also did not take into account the mitigating circumstances for this player. According to reports, an opponent from Waterkloof High deliberately used foul play in an effort to provoke Dowie.

The disciplinary committee also used “retribution” as their method of punishment instead of corrective discipline.

Corrective discipline would perhaps have seen Dowie sentenced to 20 weeks suspension with a further 20 weeks suspended. It would have provided the young person with a mentor to help him with anger management and to assist with life skills.

The sentence was inconsistent. The disturbing facts are: player from Waterkloof guilty of deliberate foul play off the ball in an attempt to provoke an opponent. The punishment? Nothing. Player form NC High School retaliates. Punishment 80 weeks.

I appeal with all my heart to the compassion of the GW Rugby authorities. Please revisit this punishment and put right the injustice perpetrated against this 18 year-old rugby player. PRO JUSTICE

Kimberley