“No place for gouging in rugby” says player who had eye removed

Clarence Harding two week after being gouged

Following Mark Cueto’s ridiculous ban for gouging in the clash between Northampton and Sale, former Gravesend player Clarence Harding who had his right eye removed after being gouged last year believes: “Gouging should be stamp out of rugby. There is no place for it in our sport.”

“The RFU’s made it clear during the different hearings of my case that they want to get rid of gouging for good. But I am not sure, the sanction given to Mark Cueto is right.

“The two Frenchmen were banned for 70 weeks and six months, Mark Cueto for nine weeks and Shalk Burger for only eight. The rugby institutions have to be more consistent if they want to succeed in their mission,” he added

Mark Cueto’s suspension means that he will be available to play again on June 4, two weeks before England start their preparation for the World Cup.

Busted: Cueto gouging Christian Day

“I don’t care who is found guilty of the offence. If you are found guilty, you should never be allowed to be involved in any form of rugby ever again,” the former No.8 insisted.

Harding’s incident happened in January 2010 in a Kent Cup game between his former club Gravesend and local rivals Maidstone. After two hearing at the RFU, it was established that Harding injury was caused by two fingers and nothing else like it was claimed.

Because of a lack of evidence, no one has been found guilty of the offence even though Mr Harding clearly stated he knew who was responsible for his injury throughout the case. 

Instead, Maidstone Rugby Club has been fined £2000 and deducted 50 points, the club being responsible of the actions of its members as stated in the RFU guidelines.

They have since appealed the sanction but dropped it during the first day of the hearing.

“Maidstone have always claimed their innocence but their decision to drop out of the hearing is strange,” the South African born said

Clarence Harding is now recovering well after having a surgery to remove his right eye and is now thinking about taking legal action against Maidstone Rugby Club.

“I was in constant pain and having my eye removed stopped it nearly completely. So on this point of view, the surgery was a great success.

“I am currently looking at taking legal action against Maidstone for their role in the affaire and maybe also the three players involved in the RFU hearing,” he concluded.