HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

Red Card – Agustin Creevy (London Irish)

The London Irish hooker, Agustin Creevy (No 2), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 1 match against Montpellier Hérault Rugby at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday, 9 December 2022.

Creevy was sent off by the referee, Andrea Piardi (Italy), in the 33rd minute of the match for tackling the Montpellier Hérault Rugby full back, Anthony Bouthier (No 15), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Bogdan Zebega (Romania) and Tembelani Herbert Mayosi (South Africa) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference today (Tuesday, 13 December).

Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
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.

Red Card – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)

The Cell C Sharks prop, Ox Nche (No 1), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 1 match against Harlequins at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, 10 December 2022.

Nche was sent off by the referee, Tual Trainini (France), in the 59th minute of the match for tackling the Harlequins hooker, Jack Walker (No 2), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Declan Goodwin (Wales), Chair, Samantha Hillas KC (England) and Martyn Wood (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference today (Tuesday, 13 December).

Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
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 Warwick (Ulster Rugby)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Ulster Rugby prop, Andy Warwick (No 1), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 1 match against Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday, 11 December 2022.

Warwick is alleged to have tackled the Sale Sharks centre, Manu Tuilagi (No 12), in a dangerous manner in the 33rd minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13.

Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Leon Lloyd (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Thursday (15 December).

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Wejdane Limame (France).

Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
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.

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Citing complaint – Sébastien Piqueronies (Section Paloise)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Section Paloise Head Coach, Sébastien Piqueronies, arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1 match against Toyota Cheetahs at Stade Hameau on Saturday, 10 December 2022.

Piqueronies is alleged to have physically abused the referee, Sam Grove-White (Scotland), following the conclusion of the match in contravention of Law 9.28.

Jeremy Summers (England), Chair, Gordon Black (Ireland) and David Humphreys (Ireland) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 14 December).

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Csaba Priskin (Czech Republic).

Law 9.28 Physical abuse of a match official
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.28 relating to physical abuse of a match official carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 24 weeks; Mid-range: 48 weeks; Top end: 96 + weeks.

Citing Complaint – Oupa Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the the Toyota Cheetahs back row, Oupa Mohoje (No 7), arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1 match against Section Paloise at Stade Hameau on Saturday, 10 December 2022.

Mohoje is alleged to have tackled the Section Paloise centre, Yvan Reilhac (No 13), in a dangerous manner in the 26th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13.

Marcello d’Orey (Portugal), Chair, Matthew O’Grady (England) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 14 December).

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Csaba Priskin (Czech Republic).

Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
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 – Charlie Maddison (Newcastle Falcons)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Newcastle Falcons replacement hooker, Charlie Maddison (No 16), arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1 match against Connacht Rugby at The Sportsground on Saturday, 10 December 2022.

Maddison is alleged to have struck the Connacht Rugby scrum-half, Caolin Blade (No 9), with his head in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.12.

Owen Rhys James (Wales), Chair, Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and Piergiorgo Della Porta (Italy) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 14 December).

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Kay Winter-Green (Wales).

Law 9.12 A player must not strike an opponent with his 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 and EPCR Challenge Cup 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 EPCR 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 26 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 www.epcrugby.com/european-professional-club-rugby/discipline-news/hearing-decisions/ when the disciplinary process is complete.
i) For World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, found at Appendix 2 to World Rugby Regulation 17, go to world.rugby