Disciplinary Hearings – Round 2

Red Card – Alec Clarey (Saracens)

The Saracens replacement prop, Alec Clarey (No 18), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 match against Lyon at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland on Saturday, 17 December 2022.

Clarey was sent off by the referee, Frank Murphy (Ireland), in the 66th minute of the match for tackling the Lyon replacement back row, Arno Botha (No 20), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Tommy Dalton (Ireland), Chair, Achille Reali (Italy) and Jonathan Walters (Wales) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference this evening (Monday, 19 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 – Kitione Kamikamica (Racing 92)

The Racing 92 No 8, Kitione Kamikamica, was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 match against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday, 18 December 2022.

Kamikamica was sent off by the referee, Craig Evans (Wales), in the 51st minute of the match for tackling the Harlequins full back, Nick David (No 15), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Kim Moloney (Ireland), Chair, Simon Thomas (Wales) and Frank Hadden (Scotland) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday (21 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 – Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain)

The Stade Toulousain full back, Thomas Ramos (No 15), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 match against Sale Sharks at Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday, 18 December 2022.

Ramos was sent off by the referee, Andrea PIardi (Italy), in the 80th minute for striking the Sale Sharks full back, Byron McGuigan (No 15), with his head in contravention of Law 9.11.

Daniel White (England), Chair, Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Bogdan Zebega (Romania) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday (21 December).

Law 9.11 A player must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.11 carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.

Citing complaint – Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain)

EPCR has also received a citing complaint against the Stade Toulousain full-back, Thomas Ramos (No 15), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 match against Sale Sharks at Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday, 18 December 2022.

Ramos is alleged to have made contact with the eye or eye area of the Sale Sharks scrum-half, Gus Warr (No 9), in the 56th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Ed Kenny (Ireland).

Daniel White (England), Chair, Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Bogdan Zebega (Romania) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday (21 December).

Law 9.12 A player must not physically abuse anyone.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to contact with the eye or eye area carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-range: 8 weeks; Top end: 12 to 52 weeks.

Citing complaint – Alex Lozowski (Saracens)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Saracens centre, Alex Lozowski (No 13), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 match against Lyon at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland on Saturday, 17 December 2022.

Lozowski is alleged to have struck the Lyon back row, Theo William (No 6), with his hand or arm in the 41st minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Ciaran Scally (Ireland).

Tommy Dalton (Ireland), Chair, Achille Reali (Italy) and Jonathan Walters (Wales) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference this evening (Monday, 19 December).

Law 9.12 A player must not physically abuse anyone.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to striking with the hand or arm carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.

Citing complaint – Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Gloucester Rugby hooker, Henry Walker (No 2), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2 match against Leinster Rugby at the RDS Arena on Friday, 16 December 2022.

Walker is alleged to have tackled the Leinster Rugby flanker, Josh van der Flier (No 7), in a dangerous manner in the 37th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Paul Minto (Scotland).

An independent Judicial Officer, Roddy Macleod (Scotland), will consider the matter of sanction as the player has accepted the charge.

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

Red Card – Abraham Papali’i (CA Brive)

The CA Brive No 8, Abraham Papali’i, was issued with a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 2 match against Connacht Rugby at Stade Amédée Domenech on Friday, 16 December 2022.

Papali’i was sent off by the referee, Adam Leal (England), in the 20th minute of the match for tackling the Connacht Rugby back row, Shamus Hurley-Langton (No 7), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Robert Milligan KC (Scotland), Chair, Becky Essex (England), and Mitchell Read (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Tuesday, 20 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 – Tevita Ratuva (CA Brive)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the CA Brive second row, Tevita Ratuva (No 5), arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 2 match against Connacht Rugby at Stade Amédée Domenech on Friday, 16 December 2022.

Ratuva is alleged to have tackled the Connacht Rugby out-half, David Hawkshaw (No 10), in a dangerous manner in the 32nd minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Chris Sharp (England).

The independent Disciplinary Committee and date for the hearing which will take place by video conference will be confirmed shortly.  

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