Toowoomba Rugby League: Pittsworth man to appeal 10-year rugby league racism ban

The man at the centre of a racist incident that divided the Toowoomba Rugby League community has appealed a 10-year ban he copped last month. Read the latest

Update: A Queensland Rugby League tribunal has reserved their decision in an appeal launched by a man against a 10-year ban he copped for hurling a racial slur at a player during a Toowoomba Rugby League A-grade game in August.

The man in August pleaded guilty to conduct which is or is likely to bring the game into disrepute and breaching any material terms of the NRL Code of Conduct, and a TRL disciplinary tribunal punished the individual with a blanked decade long exclusion order from all rugby league activities.

An appeal against the punishment was heard by the QRL Central Region Appeals Tribunal on September 15, with the body adjourning their decision “to consider all evidence presented”.

“As per the QRL Disciplinary Tribunal rules, this must be reconvened within seven (7) business days from the original hearing,” a spokeswoman said.

RACIAL INCIDENT: Shocking footage has emerged from a Toowoomba Rugby League fixture where a man can be heard saying "shut up you bl--- c--t".

Original story: The man at the centre of a racial vilification incident that divided the Toowoomba Rugby League community has appealed the severity of his decade-long ban from the sport at all levels.

Toowoomba Rugby League condemned the Pittsworth man to a 10-year ban during a judiciary meeting on August 18 following the August 7 incident at a Gatton Hawks and Pittsworth Danes showdown where he was captured on camera saying “shut up you b---- c---,” seemingly in reference to an Indigenous player on the field.

An anonymous source close to the Pittsworth man said while the culprit readily accepted his actions were wrong he believed the nature and length of the ban was too severe.

“He loves the game, is very remorseful and understands the ramifications of what he has said,” the source said.

“This is very out of character and not in his true nature.

“He is willingly undertaking the sensitivity training and is only appealing the severity of the ban, specifically its length.”

As a result the man received a 10-year ban from the TRL and it is believed the ban prevents him from attending any TRL, QRL and NRL matches and events.

The league’s disciplinary tribunal handed down the punishment, after the person involved pleaded guilty to conduct which was likely to bring the game into disrepute and breaching any material terms of the NRL Code of Conduct.

“As a result of the guilty charge, the person has been excluded from rugby league for a period of ten years,” TRL president Joe Hannant said following the tribunal.

“The tribunal also ruled the individual will be required to complete a cultural awareness program as nominated by the Queensland Rugby League Indigenous Advisory Committee prior to returning to the game.

“It’s an unprecedented term, but we can’t walk away from the racial content and we don’t tolerate anything like that. It’s distressing for everyone. In this day and age there’s just no tolerance for this type of behaviour.”

The appeal, which will be heard by the QRL Central Division, will take place tonight.