RHYS Cutbush may not have a great recollection of it, but the Nelson Bay centre has entered the NHRU history books.
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Cutbush was the first premier one player to receive a Blue Card under the union’s new concussion protocols.
He copped an accidental shoulder to the head in the second half of the Gropers’ win over Beaches and was ordered from the field by referee Lewis Nelson. Under the guidelines he has to meet a series of benchmarks and is not permitted to train or play for 12 days.
Fortunately for the Bay, there is a general bye this weekend and, baring complications, he will be available next round.
“He goes 100 per cent at everything and it was obvious to us he had a head knock,” coach Adam Edwards said. “He was stumbling a bit. The rugby community has to trust the referees’ instinct and back them.”
** In another first, Maitland back-rower Nick Davidson escaped suspension after taking an early guilty plea under the new disciplinary guidelines. Davidson was sent off after the second of two yellow cards and the judiciary duty officer deemed the red card sufficient punishment without the player appearing before the judiciary. The judiciary officer can offer early guilty pleas for up to two weeks.
** Hunter Wildfires under-17s returned victorious from a two-game tour to Christchurch. The Wildfires beat club side Hornby 78-10 and All Blacks nursery Christchurch Boys High 45-12. As well as play games, the Widfires attended a Crusaders training session and met with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
