Ivan Magomu suspended for six months, loses captaincy over misconduct

Ivan Magomu risks a lengthy ban from rugby after the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) Disciplinary Committee(DC) found him guilty of misconduct following an incident that took place in the School’s Rugby finals in May.

The Pirates' flyhalf was involved in an altercation with Vian Matsiko, a school’s rugby official in violation of multiple World Rugby regulations.

According to the DC, his conduct breached Article 10.5(e), which prohibits players from engaging in any activity on or off the field that may undermine public confidence in a match or tour. 

Additionally, he contravened Article 10.5(g) by abusing, threatening, and intimidating a match official, and by committing acts of violence within the venue during a match, as outlined in Regulation 18.4 of the World rugby regulations. Finally, he refused to acknowledge and respect the authority of the match official (Matsiko), further violating Appendix 18.4 of the WR regulations.

Magomu’s legal team argued that his client was not properly identified and the complainant’s evidence was tainted with contradictions specifically on whether Magomu shoved or strangled the complainant. 

It was recommended that Magomu who is a ‘repeat offender’ according to the Disciplinary Committee must undergo counselling for three months at a firm recommended by the URU supervised by the Rugby Medical society at his own cost.

During this period of counselling, Magomu is not allowed to participate in any URU sanctioned event of activity. He has been instructed to apologise to Matsiko via formal letter and if he fails to adhere to the above recommendations, he is barred from participating in URU activities for 12 months.

He stated, “We intend to appeal this decision,” he told the New Vision.