Gukisuva faces judiciary

A three-man rugby judicial panel will meet tomorrow to decide the fate of Avatiu rugby player Bilsy Gukisuva who was cited for punching Arorangi player Emile Mamanu during Saturday’s grand final between the two clubs.

Cook Islands Rugby Union chief executive officer Ben Koteka says that the union does not condone violence.

“We (CIRU) have a zero tolerance for on and off the field violence,” he said.

Koteka would not divulge the likely penalties that could be handed down to number eight Gukisuva although suggestions of a ‘life ban’ have been bandied around since the incident on Saturday.

A brief letter to the editor was received yesterday from a writer signing as ‘Outraged Eye Witness’ and saying, “Mr Gukisuva should be ashamed of himself for such a cowardly and stupid act. Charges should be laid against him, and a lifetime ban imposed by the rugby union.

Deliberately injuring another player has no place in sport, deliberately injuring another individual has no place in society.”

The incident has not only landed Gukisuva in serious hot water – but his actions left his team a man down for the majority of their game against the Cowboys who played outstanding, clean rugby to win the 2010 grand final 21-17.

Mamanu required numerous stitches to the wound on his face after what the letter writer described as a ‘sucker-punch’.