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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Dylan James

Brutal punch on England rugby star and reconciliation that followed goes viral

It's 2014, Salesi Ma'afu and Tom Youngs get into a scuffle off-the-ball, which leads to Youngs getting clocked clean in the face by Ma'afu in a stark act of violence. However, it's the pair's reconciliation afterwards that chimes with people until this day.

We're all familiar with Manu Tuilagi's shots on Chris Ashton, and there are certainly shades of that iconic punch up in this incident.

Despite it taking place more than eight years ago, it has been shared around the internet by thousands over the last week.

READ MORE: Huge rugby brawl erupts as players and fans clash and 12-year-old boy 'chased and threatened'

First, let's go back to what actually happened. It's the Aviva Premiership semi-final and Northampton Saints are up against Leicester Tigers. Following a rolling maul, the pair exchanged a few slaps but nothing too troubling at this stage.

But Wallaby Ma'afu then lost his cool, and despite the fact it appeared as if Youngs started it, the former unleashed a brutal two punch combo. The first a body-shot on Youngs, and the second was a clean strike to his head, the clearest red card you are likely to see.

Ma'afu was handed a red card, with Youngs receiving yellow. Ma'afu was later given a one week ban, meaning that he would still be available for the Premiership final, which he would go on to win against Saracens.

But there were no hard feelings. In fact, what happened on Twitter afterwards was the epitome of the sportsmanship and graciousness many believe sets rugby apart.

Alongside an iconic picture of the blow landing on Youngs' face, the Leicester legend said to Ma'afu: "Good shot, mate. Go well in the final #rocky."

Ma'afu responded: "Cheers mate. The jersey can overcome us in the heat of battle. I owe you a pint #respect."

You can watch the actual incident below.

Youngs' wife, Tiffany, tragically died in June this year after a long and “heroic battle” with cancer. She passed away some six weeks after ex-Leicester captain Youngs, 35, retired from the sport to return to Norfolk to care for her.

In the weeks that followed he was given an emotional send-off by the club he had led with distinction.

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