JAILED Mark Moss playing this year.

A SOUTHAMPTON rugby player is today beginning an eight-month jail sentence for a vicious assault on the field which left an opponent needing eye surgery.

Father of four Mark Moss, 36, denied the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm but was found guilty.

The jail sentence imposed at Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday is thought to be one of the first in the country for an assault on the rugby field. The court heard that the incident took place after a second-half ruck in the game between Millbrook Rugby Club First XV and United Services Portsmouth.

Moss, a builder, of Romsey Road, Ower, near Romsey, punched Steven Rowlands with such force that he suffered a fractured eye socket.

Mr Rowlands, a Royal Navy chief petty officer, had to have a titanium plate inserted in the eye socket following the assault in November 1997.

Sentencing Moss, assistant recorder Morgan said: "I accept rugby is a game of physical contact and that the players accept that this is part of the game and that harm can come to them.

"But that is not a licence to thuggery.

"This offence involved an assault off the ball and after play had moved on. I accept this is your first conviction for violence but I must pass a sentence of imprisonment, though you will receive the minimum possible."

Moss will serve half his sentence, with the other half suspended.

Geoff Frith, secretary of the Hampshire RFU, said the disciplinary committee would meet "in due course" to discuss the case.

But he added: "It's very unusual to get such a severe penalty."

Moss has been suspended from county rugby since the incident.

Jackie Ings, secretary of Millbrook Rugby Club, said: "We are devastated by this whole situation. A lot of our players are thinking of packing in the game as a result."

First team captain Richard Goodridge said: "We were totally surprised when these charges were brought in the first place.

"Mark has never been sent off or cautioned before in 15 years playing for our club.

"Off the rugby field he's a quiet man. On the pitch he's a hard and aggressive player, but there is nothing dirty about his play.

"Since this happened we've had letters of support from other clubs he has played against. At the time of the incident none of us thought anything had happened in the game.

"The first we knew about it was when we got a letter from the other club saying that one of their players had received an injury and was citing Mark as the culprit.

"I was playing behind Mark when the incident was said to have happened and I didn't see anything.

"We will be holding a collection for Mark at our annual club dinner and offer our support to his wife Karen."

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