Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SYDNEY — A rugby league player has been banned for eight games after using a racial slur against a rival during the Australian NRL's season-opening round in Las Vegas. A National Rugby League judiciary rejected a claim by Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu that he didn't know he was racially vilifying Ezra Mam when he used the slur on the Brisbane Broncos player. The 23-year-old Leniu has Samoan heritage and has represented its national team. He was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia as a child. Mam is an Indigenous Australian who has Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Leniu told the judiciary, "I had no racial intent towards Ezra and the Indigenous community." He made a public apology before the judiciary hearing.
