This was the shocking moment a Welsh rugby international attacked an Australian lawyer watching the Lions tour in an Ozzie bar.
Burly Craig Mitchell, 27, was Down Under for the sporting clash when he launched a devastating right hook at Cian Barry.
Mitchell, an 18 stone prop, was celebrating the Lions’ first test win over the Aussies when rival fans clashed in a pub.
He floored suited-wearing lawyer Cian with a right hook before putting his hat back on and strolling away.
The forward, who has been capped by Wales 15 times, left Mr Barry with blurred vision and needing multiple stitches to his face just below his left eye.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm at Brisbane Magistrates’ Court and given a six-month suspended jail sentence and a £1,180 fine.
CCTV released by the court shows the moment Mitchell, who plays for the Exeter Chiefs in Devon, wearing a yellow hat and a red Lions shirt, wades into an argument.
The disgraced sportsman also had to shell out £1,966 in compensation to Mr Barry following the attack last month.
Magistrate Anne Thacker said: “Gratuitous violence in these sorts of situations while people are drinking and celebrating rugby matches is not acceptable.
“In Queensland, in Australia at the moment, we have a particular problem with drunken violence at rugby matches and surrounding rugby matches.”
Exeter Chiefs have decided not to sack Mitchell, saying in a statement: “Exeter Rugby Club chief executive Tony Rowe OBE, together with head coach Rob Baxter, have reviewed closely CCTV footage and discussed in depth the incident involving first-team squad member Craig Mitchell.
“Following this review process, the club feel the six-month suspended sentence, together with the fine imposed on the player by the Australian authorities, is sufficient punishment.”
Speaking at his sentence, Mitchell expressed his remorse, saying his actions were “totally unacceptable and unforgivable.”
The front rower was in Australia merely as a fan, having been in the Welsh squad for the team’s tour of Japan last month.
