Hurricanes Lock Left Out After Spat With Barman

Jason Eaton has paid a belated price for berating a barman who refused to serve him drinks during a night out.

Eaton has been stood down from the Hurricanes Super 14 match against the Western Force tomorrow with team management saying only that the lock had breached team protocol and that the suspension was an employment issue.

The Dominion Post understands the action has been sparked by a letter sent to the New Zealand Rugby Union complaining about a verbal exchange at a bar.

It is unclear when the incident happened, but Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper said it had not been after the opening match against the Blues. Whatever the case, he was making no apologies for holding his player accountable.

“Jason broke team protocol and we are pretty hard on team protocol so if you break it, those are the consequences,” he said.

“It’s our protocols, that’s why he’s not playing. [It was] serious enough to be not given your jersey.”

Asked if the suspension would be for only one match, Cooper said: “At this stage, yes. He’s got to sit and wait now.

“He’s given someone else an opportunity now in James [Broadhurst], so he has to sit outside the 22 and wait and see what happens.”

He was disappointed a senior player had broken protocol and said the decision not to reveal the offence was not out of the ordinary.

For Eaton, it is a disappointing result after an eye-catching start to the season against the Blues at North Harbour.

The 27-year-old battled back from a serious knee injury last year and appears to be nearing his top form after a solid northern tour with the All Blacks.

The sidelining of Eaton has resulted in Cooper installing a new locking partnership of Bryn Evans and 2.03m rookie James Broadhurst to play the Force, with Michael Paterson moving to the blindside to take the place of Nick Crosswell, who drops out of the 22.

With thanks to Stuff.co.nz