Rugby eye ‘gouging’ incident probed
Police have launched an investigation into a rugby game after a player was blinded in one eye when he was gouged by an opponent.
Clarence Harding, 26, was rushed to hospital during a cup match between his side Gravesend Rugby Club and Maidstone RFC.
Police investigating a rugby game after a player was blinded in one eye
The Gravesend club has written to its mid-Kent rivals demanding an investigation after surgeons said he is unlikely to regain the sight in his right eye.
Kent Police later confirmed they were investigating the incident as the player’s club officials said they were “deeply concerned” by the injury.
Mr Harding, who was playing at number eight, said: “I was on the floor presenting the ball for my team-mates when I felt a finger sticking into the corner of my eye.
“It was over in an instant but it dawned on me very quickly that something pretty serious had happened. The ball was nowhere near my head at the time.”
Gravesend RFC chairman Graham Haggar said pictures taken during the clash on January 17 were being examined and said no-one had suffered such a serious injury in the club’s history.
He said: “We are deeply concerned about the horrendous injury suffered by Clarence that has led to him losing the sight in one eye… We are nervous to co-operate with any investigation to establish what happened in the match and we will support our player and his family in any way we can.”
Mr Haggar said any player found to have committed eye-gouging should be banned from rugby for life and “face the full weight of the criminal law”.
A Kent Police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating an incident of grievous bodily harm where a 26-year-ancient man sustained a serious injury to his eye following a rugby match in Maidstone on January 17.”
