Kenny Edwards: Huddersfield forward banned for putting finger up opponent’s bottom

Huddersfield forward Kenny Edwards has been banned for 10 matches for putting his finger up the bottom of an opponent.

The New Zealander was put on report by referee Ben Thaler during the Giants’ 50-12 home defeat by Catalans Dragons last Thursday following a complaint brought by Dragons prop Sam Kasiano.

Edwards was charged by the Rugby Football League’s match review panel with a Grade F offence, the most serious available to it, for “other contrary behaviour” and referred to an independent tribunal, which 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, while wingers Tommy Makinson (St Helens) and Tom Lineham (Warrington) were suspended for five and eight matches respectively for grabbing opponents’ testicles.

Kasiano, meanwhile, 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 but the tribunal agreed the charge should be downgraded and he avoided a ban, freeing him to play against Leeds on Friday.

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