Ebbw Vale second-row Curtis Gregory has been banned for eight matches after an appeal reduced an initial 15-game suspension for a stamp on Llandovery captain Joe Powell.
The ban ends on December 20, 2026, and his first game back could be Ebbw Vale's Boxing Day derby against Pontypool.
Incident and Red Card
Gregory was shown a straight red card by referee Craig Evans for stamping on the leg of Powell during a Super Rygbi Cymru match last month.
With a ruck formed, Powell briefly held onto Gregory's leg, prompting Gregory to stamp down on the outstretched limb with significant force.
Powell appeared to escape without visible injury, but the incident sparked widespread outrage.
Appeal and Disciplinary Action
The Welsh Rugby Union initially handed Gregory a 15-match ban, which was reduced to eight games upon appeal.
Ebbw Vale also took internal disciplinary action against Gregory after the incident.
The WRU does not publicly disclose details of its disciplinary proceedings, unlike the Rugby Football Union, which makes its decisions and sanctions public. Similar stamping offences in rugby have resulted in bans of comparable length, which is likely to have formed the basis of the appeal.
Global Reaction
Footage of the flashpoint circulated quickly online and was viewed by millions around the world, with major news sites in South Africa and Australia generating headlines on it.
Online reaction has largely focused on the severity of the offence, with many onlookers likely to feel an eight-game ban does not go far enough. Some fans had called for a lifetime suspension.
