Spencer Leniu banned for eight weeks for racial abuse
Rugby player Spencer Leniu has been suspended for eight weeks for racially abusing another player, Ezra Mam during a game.
Leniu, 23, plays for Sydney Roosters, he called Mam – an Indigenous Australian, an offensive term during a game, but denied he intended it to be a racial slur.
A National Rugby League (NRL) judiciary panel ruled that Leniu used the word with racial intentions.
It said his remorse was “genuine” but a lengthy ban was needed to “send a strong deterrent”.
Leniu was born in New Zealand and raised in Sydney. He represents Samoa internationally. He has apologised to Mam.
He said: “I really am sorry to Ezra and his people. I can’t believe I used that word but I really didn’t mean it.”
He will miss eight matches and be available to return against the New Zealand Warriors on 12 May.
