Rhodes banned for ‘dangerous headlock’

Lions flanker Michael Rhodes has been suspended from all rugby until the end of July after being found guilty of using a "dangerous headlock" to pull Otago winger Siale Piutau out of a ruck in their 26-22 Super rugby victory in Dunedin on Saturday.

Rhodes was punched in the head twice by Piutau in retaliation. The Highlanders winger was also cited for the punches though he was cleared after a disciplinary hearing, governing body SANZAR said on Tuesday.

The incident, which occurred with the Highlanders hot on attack and the score locked at 19-19, sparked a free-for-all with several players from both sides swinging wildly.

Judicial officer Nick Davidson said that Rhodes had flipped Piutau over in a dangerous manner, “placing his head and neck at serious risk of injury”, and that video evidence had showed Piutau “in a highly compromised and dangerous position”.

Rhodes, who has the right of appeal, has been suspended for six matches but for the ban to be effective it would encompass all rugby until July 31, Davidson said.

The Lions have only two matches left in the Super rugby regular season and no hope of making the playoffs.

Davidson said Piutau had escaped sanction because of “the exceptional circumstances” of the incident.

“Whilst the player admitted to foul play he had been seriously compromised in the incident involving Rhodes,” he said.

“Piutau’s reaction was that of someone who had been seriously endangered (and) to impose a sanction in these circumstances would not reflect the effect on Piutau of the incident and a reaction that was the product of shock rather than retaliatory intent.”

The Highlanders host Australia’s Western Force in Dunedin on Friday while the Lions play the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday.