Video: Canoe polo player accidentally smashes into opponent’s face in Galway

Sean, who can be seen paddling the blue no.6 boat, said the incident took place during a match between DIT (wearing black) and NUIG at the Irish Kayaking Intervarsities hosted in Galway, Claddagh Basin, last Friday.

Speaking exclusively to JOE, Sean said: “The game is called Canoe Polo and it’s a contact sport, so it’s legal to push others over if they have the ball.”

Sounds fair enough, but what about the monster hit that Sean laid out on one of his opponents? Did he mean it? Was the other person okay? Did their teammates flip out?

According to Sean: “The other player wasn’t knocked out, just dazed. The hit to the head was not on purpose. It was just an accident and it happens from time to time in the game.

“The video cuts short here, but the game was paused afterwards and I made sure he was alright and apologised.

“There was no flak from the other team because I didn’t mean to hit him that badly! All was good afterwards and we played on.”

After watching that, we think we’ll stick to croquet, just to be safe.

Massive thanks to Sean Hendrick for sending this our way