Rugby player punches own teammate in heated scenes at NZ premier match

Stunning scenes have marred a recent rugby union match in New Zealand when an irate forward decked his own teammate in the middle of their match.

Veteran Sean Morrison returned to the Napier All Blacks this season to play in the Hawkes Bay Nash Cup competition.

They were playing Aotea Sports Club at Rugby Park in Dannevirke on June 18 and tensions were high between Morrison and teammate Kelsey Miller.

The two had been chirping at each other in the second half and at one point Morrison collected Miller by accident in a tackle.

It all boiled over minutes later when Morrison got sick of the verbal barrage he was copping from his teammate and whacked him in the mouth to shut him up.  

The incident occurred in the second half when Aotea Sports Club No.8 Jacob Stephenson strolled over for a soft try to cut the margin to just 11 points after they were previously losing by 18.

Morrison was one of the players that the Aotea player skated past and Miller was not happy. He proceeded to give his teammate an all-time spray, but Morrison was having none of it.

He swiftly reacted with a punch to the face that left Miller shocked.

Amazingly, the referee either didn't see it, or didn't care. There was no card or penalty issued and play resumed as per normal after the conversion. 

It is believed Morrison didn't face any sanction for the punch.

In April this year the club did a Facebook profile on Morrison that has dated poorly.

'Seany is infamous for his big hits on the field (always legal of course). I’ve heard many Pirates comment that they’re glad they play alongside him and not against him,' the post read.

Morrison also copped a red card in May for an indiscretion in the Pirates' heavy loss to fellow Napier side Tech Old Boys. He has