Rugby coach beaten with umbrella loses sight in one eye, charges say

SALT LAKE CITY (KSL.com)— A Draper man has been charged pinch attacking a coach pinch an umbrella astatine a rugby tournament.

Takes Mafileo Vakapuna, 39, was charged Thursday successful 3rd District Court pinch aggravated battle resulting successful superior injury, a second-degree felony.

A tourney by nan Utah Rugby Academy was held astatine nan Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex, 2280 N. Rose Park Lane, connected July 27. A conflict collapsed retired astatine 1 of nan games, and a coach tried to break it up, according to charging documents.

“During nan altercation, Vakapuna struck (the coach) aggregate times pinch an umbrella. (The coach) mislaid consciousness and usage of his correct oculus from nan altercation,” nan charges allege.

The coach needed to person room connected his eye, and much than 2 weeks aft nan incident was still incapable to spot retired of it, according to nan charges.

Police reviewed cellphone video of nan onslaught and talked to 1 witnesser who saw nan coach being deed “multiple times pinch an umbrella. (The coach) fell, and Vakapuna continued hitting (him) connected nan crushed pinch an umbrella,” nan charges say.