Player escapes with five-week ban
CONTROVERSIAL Nottingham’s Sione Kalamafoni has escaped with a five-week suspension after kneeing Rotherham Titans' Jonny Hepworth in the face during last month’s clash - and the Clifton Lane club say it isn't good enough.
Hepworth was severely concussed in the incident last month - and will only be cleared to make his comeback at Cornish Pirates this Sunday - with Tongan Kalamafoni found guilty by an RFU Disciplinary Panel this week although, surprisingly, a second charge of striking Welding was dismissed.
Said a Lane spokesman: "We stated our case in a video conference call at the hearing and it became heated at times.
"We think the player should have been banned for longer and also put on probation to prevent any other players from getting injured in future."