This is South Wales -- A rugby thug has been jailed for punching an opponent during a match leaving him with an eye injury needing 28 stitches. Rhys Peebles, 30, lashed out "in the heat of the moment" seriously injuring 19-year-old prop forward Callum Lewis. Police were called to Cardiff Arms Park after a violent scrap erupted at the end of the game. A court heard 6ft 2in and 16 stone Peebles was playing for Cross Keys when the mass brawl started. Victim Mr Lewis, a Welsh under-20s international player - was taken to hospital after the match two months ago. Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Lewis had only just recovered from the serious eye injury. Peebles today admitted malicious wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm during the match. Jonathan Wellington, defending, said: "He lashed out in the heat of the moment during a huge brawl. "Everything happened so quickly that, in his mind, he thought the other player was moving towards the brawl and he lashed out. "Obviously that blow landed and he was sent off." Groundsmen had to use buckets of water to wash away blood from the artificial pitch at the end of the game. Cardiff RFC were getting "thrashed" at home, 38 points to 10 by Peebles' team Cross Keys when the fight broke out. Although the game was not due to end for an other five minutes the referee blew the final whistle early to stop the violence. Victim Mr Lewis has made a full recovery and returned to playing last weekend. Peebles, a carpenter of Pontywaun, near Newport, was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.
Reported by This is 16 hours ago.
This is South Wales -- A rugby thug has been jailed for punching an opponent during a match leaving him with an eye injury needing 28 stitches. Rhys Peebles, 30, lashed out "in the heat of the moment" seriously injuring 19-year-old prop forward Callum Lewis. Police were called to Cardiff Arms Park after a violent scrap erupted at the end of the game. A court heard 6ft 2in and 16 stone Peebles was playing for Cross Keys when the mass brawl started. Victim Mr Lewis, a Welsh under-20s international player - was taken to hospital after the match two months ago. Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Lewis had only just recovered from the serious eye injury. Peebles today admitted malicious wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm during the match. Jonathan Wellington, defending, said: "He lashed out in the heat of the moment during a huge brawl. "Everything happened so quickly that, in his mind, he thought the other player was moving towards the brawl and he lashed out. "Obviously that blow landed and he was sent off." Groundsmen had to use buckets of water to wash away blood from the artificial pitch at the end of the game. Cardiff RFC were getting "thrashed" at home, 38 points to 10 by Peebles' team Cross Keys when the fight broke out. Although the game was not due to end for an other five minutes the referee blew the final whistle early to stop the violence. Victim Mr Lewis has made a full recovery and returned to playing last weekend. Peebles, a carpenter of Pontywaun, near Newport, was jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120.
Reported by This is 16 hours ago.