Huddersfield forward Kenny Edwards has been banned for 10 matches for putting his finger up the bottom of an opponent.
Following a complaint brought by Dragons prop Sam Kasiano the New Zealand player was put on report by referee Ben Thaler during the Giants’ 50-12 home defeat by Catalans Dragons last Thursday.
Edwards was charged by the Rugby Football League’s match review panel for the incident with a Grade F offence. This is the most serious available to it, for “other contrary behaviour” and referred to an independent tribunal. The panel handed out the punishment following a hearing on Wednesday evening.
Edwards, a former Catalans player, pleaded guilty to the charge and was also handed a £500 fine.
Catalans back-rower Joel Tomkins was suspended for eight games for a similar offence last year. Wingers Tommy Makinson (St Helens) and Tom Lineham (Warrington) were also suspended for five and eight matches respectively for grabbing opponents’ testicles.
Meanwhile, Kasiano successfully challenged a one-game penalty notice after being charged with a Grade B offence of dangerous contact during the game against Huddersfield.
Kasiano pleaded guilty to the offence however the tribunal agreed the charge should be downgraded and he avoided a ban, freeing him to play against Leeds on Friday.
