Court told punch broke player’s jaw

Nov 12 2009 by Gary Stewart, Ormskirk Advertiser

A RUGBY player from Burscough has appeared in court charged with GBH after an off-the-ball incident during a match.

Christopher Wolfenden, 40, of Hawthorne Avenue, Burscough, broke an opponent’s jaw with a single punch leaving him with two metal plates holding it together, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Wolfenden, who was Waterloo’s second team captain on September 27 2008 when the team met Chester RUFC at home, pleaded not guilty to a charge of ‘unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm’ on Chester forward Barry Holmes.

Robert Jansen, prosecuting, told the court: “Putting it simply this was unlawful violence on the rugby field. The Crown’s case is that the defendant unlawfully assaulted Barry Holmes with a single punch to the left side of Mr Holmes’ jaw.

Mr Jansen explained that the incident happened during a ‘maul’ where players bunch together and push their opponents to try to move up the field.

He said Mr Holmes moved Wolfenden, a mechanic, Burscough, from an illegal off side position.

“Having moved the defendant away from the maul they were detached and a few feet away.

“The Crown say it was at this point Mr Wolfenden unlawfully punched Mr Holmes with such force that he knocked him to the floor.

“The match was stopped. He was on the floor with blood seen to be coming out of his face. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Aintree Hospital.”

Mr Jansen asked Mr Holmes if he knew the rules of rugby to which the player, originally from Limerick, said: “I have never read the rule book but I have played since I was eight or nine and still enjoy it.”

Asked if it was legal to punch in rugby he said: “Not to my knowledge,” said Mr Holmes.

Desmond Lennon , defending, questioned his “selective memory”.

He said: “I would suggest he was being pulled very vigorously by you. So much so that he couldn’t breath and you were doing it quite deliberately to get him out of the maul. He punched you to get you off him. Pulling around the neck is very dangerous isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Mr Holmes answered.

(proceeding)