HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP  

 

Red Card – Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 

The Glasgow Warriors No 8, Matt Fagerson, was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 4 match against La Rochelle at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday, 14 December 2019.  

Evans was sent off by the referee, Wayne Barnes (England), in the 80th minute of the match for striking the La Rochelle replacement prop, Danny Priso (No 17), with his arm in contravention of Law 9.12. 

Gareth Graham (England), Chair, Val Toma (Romania) and Yannick Jauzion (France), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP on Thursday, 19 December. 

Law 9.12 Striking with the arm
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to striking with the arm carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.  

 

Citing complaint – Lewis Bean (Northampton Saints)  

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Northampton Saints replacement second row, Lewis Bean (No 19), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 4 match against Leinster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 14 December 2019.  

Bean is alleged to have committed an act of foul play in that he tackled the Leinster prop Cian Healy (No 1), in a dangerous manner in the 13th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13. 

Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Jamie Corsi (Wales) and John Doubleday (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 December). 

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Jeff Mark (Wales).  

Law 9.13 Dangerous tackling  

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 relating to dangerous tackling carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.  

 

Citing complaint – Andy Symons (Northampton Saints) 

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Northampton Saints centre, Andy Symons (No 12), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 4 match against Leinster Rugby on Saturday, 14 December 2019.  

Symons is alleged to have committed an act of foul play in that he tackled the Leinster hooker, James Tracy (No 2), in a dangerous manner in the 15th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13. 

Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Jamie Corsi (Wales) and John Doubleday (England), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 December). 

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Jeff Mark (Wales).  

Law 9.13 Dangerous tackling  

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 relating to dangerous tackling carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.  

 

Citing complaint – Matt Proctor (Northampton Saints) 

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Northampton Saints centre, Matt Proctor (No 13), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 4 match against Leinster Rugby on Saturday, 14 December 2019.  

Proctor is alleged to have committed an act of foul play in that he tackled the Leinster replacement fly half, Ciaran Frawley (No 22), in a dangerous manner in the 72nd minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13. 

Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Andrea Caranci (Italy) and Roger Morris (Wales), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 December). 

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Jeff Mark (Wales).  

Law 9.13 Dangerous tackling  

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 relating to dangerous tackling carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.  

 

CHALLENGE CUP 

 

Red Card – Ethan Waller (Worcester Warriors) 

The Worcester Warriors replacement prop, Ethan Waller (No 17), was issued with a red card during his club’s Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday, 13 December 2019.  

Waller was sent off by the referee, Ludovic Cayre (France), in the 71st minute of the match for striking the Dragons flanker, Cory Hill (No 6), with his shoulder in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.12.

Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Andrea Caranci (Italy) and Roger Morris (Wales), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 December). 

Law 9.12 Striking with the shoulder
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to striking with the shoulder carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.  

 

Red Card – Davide Zanetti (Rugby Calvisano) 

The Rugby Calvisano second row, Davide Zanetti (No 4), was issued with a red card during his club’s Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Leicester Tigers at the Pata Stadium on Saturday, 14 December 2019.  

Zanetti was sent off by the referee, Thomas Charabas (France), in the 60th minute of the match for kicking an opposing player in contravention of Law 9.12 

Gareth Graham (England), Chair, Val Toma (Romania) and Yannick Jauzion (France), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP on Thursday, 19 December. 

Law 9.12 Kicking
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to kicking carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-range: 8 weeks; Top end: 12 to 52 weeks.  

 

Citing complaint – Mitch Lees (Brive) 

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Brive second row, Mitch Lees (No 5), arising from his club’s Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Zebre Rugby Club at Stade Amédée-Doménech on Friday, 13 December 2019.  

Lees is alleged to have struck the Zebre Rugby Club second row, Mick Kearney (No 4), with his shoulder in a dangerous manner in the 28th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12. 

Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Sarah Smith (Scotland) and Val Toma (Romania), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP this evening (Tuesday, 17 December). 

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Richard McGhee (Scotland) 

Law 9.12 Striking with the shoulder
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to striking with the shoulder carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.  

 

Citing complaint – Geoffrey Moise (Pau) 

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Pau prop, Geoffrey Moise (No 1), arising from his club’s Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against the Cardiff Blues at Stade du Hameau on Saturday, 14 December 2019.  

Moise is alleged to have struck the Cardiff Blues replacement prop, Kieron Assiratti (No 18), with his head in a dangerous manner in the 47th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12. 

Gareth Graham (England), Chair, Val Toma (Romania) and Yannick Jauzion (France), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP on Thursday, 19 December. 

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Wayne Sheridan (Ireland) 

Law 9.12 Striking with the head
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to striking with the head carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 6 weeks; Mid-range: 10 weeks; Top end: 16 to 104 weeks.

 

Notes

(i) Red Cards
a) The case of any player sent off in Heineken Champions Cup, Challenge Cup and Continental Shield matches shall be adjudicated by an independent Disciplinary Committee or an independent Judicial Officer as soon as is practicable.
b) Until the hearing the player is ineligible to play in any tournament.
(ii) Citing Commissioner
a) Citing Commissioners are appointed by EPCR for all Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup matches and shall be entitled to cite a player for any act or acts of Foul Play that in the Citing Commissioner’s opinion warranted a red card.
b) For such matches, clubs will not have the power to cite a player but may refer incidents to the Citing Commissioner within 26 hours of the start of the match.
c) The Citing Commissioner will have 50 hours from the start of the match to make a citing. In certain circumstances this deadline can be extended.
d) The tournament Disciplinary Officer may forward the submitted citing to a Citing Officer to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for the citing to progress.
e) The Disciplinary Officer will then bring a charge against the cited player.
(iii) Disciplinary Hearing
a) The independent Disciplinary Committee or independent Judicial Officer are chosen by the chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Mike Hamlin.
b) EPCR’s Disciplinary Officer presents the case against the player.
c) If a decision is upheld, the Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Officer will be required to consider the appropriate sanction under World Rugby’s sanctioning regime, which EPCR is obliged to follow. The seriousness of the player’s actions will be first assessed in order to determine which of the three stipulated entry points (lower end, mid-range and top end) is the most appropriate.
d) The Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Officer will determine the appropriate entry point based on an assessment of a number of particular characteristics of the player’s actions, including whether or not they were intentional, whether or not they caused any injuries and whether or not they had any effect on the relevant match.
e) After deciding the entry point, the Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Officer will then consider whether the suspension should be increased from the entry point to take account of certain specified aggravating factors, such as a poor disciplinary record or the need for deterrence, and/or decreased from the entry point to take account of certain specified mitigating actions, such as a guilty plea, a good disciplinary record, the player’s conduct at the hearing and expressions of remorse.
f) A suspension is a blanket ban from playing rugby union anywhere in the world. Players are suspended on the basis that a one-week period of suspension would ordinarily result in a player missing one match. Suspensions take into account periods of inactivity (such as the close season), periods when a player is injured or otherwise not fit to play, and when a player is not available or not expected to play. Suspensions should also take into account any out-of-season matches which are not considered to be meaningful, or which are not close enough to the season to be a determining factor in a player’s future selection.
g) Both parties to the hearing (EPCR and the player) have the right to appeal decisions. Appeals must be lodged within three (3) working days of receiving the full written decision of the Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Officer.
h) The full written decision will be available on epcrugby.com/discipline/hearing-decisions when the disciplinary process is complete.
i) For World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, found at Appendix 1 to World Rugby Regulation 17, log on to world.rugby