By Steve Haag

Back Page Sport.Com

Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl's termination of Epi Taione's contract is a plus for the professionalism of the game in this country.

Players rarely take accountability for their on-field actions, especially when it comes to ill-discipline, but the Sharks refusal to revert to the stereotype in the situation of the Tongan Taione should set the benchmark for other South African regions.

Taione, contracted after a very good World Cup, was banned for six weeks after headbutting a Hurricanes player. Not only did the headbutt reduce the Sharks to 14 players when he was red carded, it also changed the complexion of the game and the possible two points lost (the Sharks drew 13-all) could still prove the difference between a home semi-final and no semi-final at all.

Taione's action could have serious financial implications, so it could yet cost the Sharks money. But short term they won't be paying a professional player who acted like an out of control mugger in a head butt that was premediated and ugly, despite the player's appeal to the contrary.

Van Zyl told John Bishop of the Witness that swift action was needed as the Sharks saw no value in contracting a player who could not play for the next month.

Van Zyl said the discussions between Taione and the Sharks to end his contract were "amicable."

"There was little point in him sitting around in Durban and serving out his suspension. His Sharks contract, in the end, did not cost us a great deal of money. We were paying him on a pro rata basis and he arrived late and left early."

Taione played only 25 minutes of a possible 160 before being red-carded and subsequently banned.

"We are very sorry to see him go," said Van Zyl. "He was popular with his Sharks team-mates and he really enjoyed Durban. He made it clear that if he is needed again once his suspension is over (on May 17), he would be happy to return."

Van Zyl, who represented Taione in his appeal, said that the the 29-year-old Tongan deserved his suspension "but we thought six weeks was too harsh and we did everything possible to have the sentence reduced."

"He has paid heavily for his brief moment of madness. There is no no doubt that he is a talented player and a powerful ball-carrier with much to offer and perhaps we can get him back to Durban in the future."

This is where I disagree with Van Zyl. That head butt was as ugly as you will see in rugby and it was deserving of six months and not six weeks.