DUBLIN — Canadian hooker Ray Barkwill has been banned for nine weeks for making contact with an opponent’s eye during a rugby test match against Romania.
World Rugby says the offence carries an entry-point suspension of 12 weeks but was reduced because of mitigating factors, including Barkwill’s previously clean disciplinary record.
The incident occurred in Canada’s 18-9 loss in Bucharest on Saturday in the last match of its end-of-year tour of Europe.
The 34-year-old Barkwill, from Niagara Falls, Ont., is not currently playing for a pro club.
From the same match, Romania forward Mihai Macovei received a six-week suspension for striking an opponent in the face with his forearm.