Montgomery escapes life ban

South Africa rugby star Percy Montgomery, who could have been banned for life for pushing over a touch judge during a match, will be free to play again in six months.

A Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary committee last night handed Montgomery a two-year ban but suspended 18 months of the sentence.

The 29-year-old full-back was also fined after his personal hearing.

Montgomery, capped 50 times by South Africa, was sent off by referee Nigel Owens for pushing touch judge Peter Rees to the ground in the in-goal area after his club Newport conceded a try during the bad-tempered 42-23 defeat by Swansea in the Welsh Premiership on May 13.

During the match Newport lock Mike Voyce was also dismissed for stamping and Swansea prop Tim Evans red-carded for punching.

A number of players alleged that Montgomery was provoked by something said to him by an official immediately prior to the incident but there was no mention of that in last night’s WRU statement.

At the time one player, who did not wish to be named, said: “It wasn’t an unprovoked attack. A player of Percy’s world stature and experience would not attack an official otherwise.”