Cheap shot.

War broke out during the opening round of the National Provincial Championship (NPC) in New Zealand over the weekend following a needless cheap shot from Manawatu Turbos lock Josh Taula

Taula was shown a red card for his late shot in the closing stages of the match on Wellington fullback Ruben Love, as Manawatu were defeated 22-6.

The lock charged at Love and clattered him long after he had made a clearance kick, sparking an all-out brawl between the two sides, with Love’s teammates rightly aggrieved by the challenge on their fullback.

Referee Nick Hogan was left with no choice but to red-card Taula, stating that it was “a late shoulder charge to the head with a high degree of danger.”