Video: Brutal foul in opening minutes costs rugby final
Yesterday, the final of Europe's top Rugby League competition - the Super League - was virtually decided in the opening minutes, as Wigan prop Ben Flower delivered a shocking punch to a defenceless opponent on live TV.
Flower, who today apologised for his actions, delivered a hook to St Helens' Lance Hohaia, before pinning him to the ground and delivering another blow directly to the face.
He was sent off in the game's opening two minutes - becoming the first player to every be either sin-binned or sent off in the competition's grand final.
The incident has since gone viral around the world. Careful watching reveals an incident between the pair as the ball descends from a high kick, followed moments later by an off-the-ball dispute between the pair.
Wigan were forced to play the remaining 77 minutes without one of their players, eventually losing 14-6 to St Helens.
Hohaia returned to join in the victory celebrations a few hours later, and told the press he was feeling fine, but would need some further scans.
”Obviously I’m disappointed that I didn’t get to play a bigger part in the game but we got the result and the small part that I played is enough to get the ring. I’m pretty happy about that.
”I don’t remember the incident. People have told me what happened, I guess I was hit around the head somewhere. Sometimes these things happen in the game," he said.
