Disciplinary Hearings

Red card – Cobus Wiese (Sale Sharks)

The Sale Sharks second row, Cobus Wiese (No 4), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Stade Toulousain at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday, 14 January 2023.

Wiese was sent off by the referee, Mike Adamson (Scotland), in the 18th minute of the match for a dangerous clear out on the Stade Toulousain prop, Dorian Aldegheri (No 3), in contravention of Law 9.20.

Rhian Williams (Wales), Chair, Mike Ross (Ireland) and Lawrence Sephaka (South Africa) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference this evening (Monday 16 January).

Law 9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 relating to dangerous play in a ruck or maul carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks

Red card – Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)

The Exeter Chiefs centre, Henry Slade (No 13), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 14 January 2023.

Slade was sent off by the referee, Thomas Charabas (France), in the 54th minute of the match for tackling the Vodacom Bulls full back, Kurt-Lee Arendse (No 15), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Jennifer Donovan (Ireland), Chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Yannick Jauzion (France) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Tuesday 17 January).

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 – Ben Loader (London Irish)

The London Irish full back, Ben Loader, (No 15), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the DHL Stormers at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, 15 January 2023.

Loader was sent off by the referee, Ludovic Cayre (France), in the 18th minute of the match for tackling the DHL Stormers out half, Manie Libbok (No 10), in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Simon Thomas (Wales), Chair, Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday (18 January).

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 – Ciaran Parker (London Irish)

The London Irish replacement prop, Ciaran Parker (No 18), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the DHL Stormers at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, 15 January 2023.

Parker was sent off by the referee, Ludovic Cayre (France), in the 43rd minute of the match for a dangerous clear out on the DHL Stormers back row, Deon Fourie (No 6), in contravention of Law 9.20.

David Martin (Ireland), Chair, Valeriu Toma (Romania) and Chris Watts (Wales) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday (18 January).

Law 9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 relating to dangerous play in a ruck or maul carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks

Red card – Jack O’Donoghue (Munster Rugby)

The Munster Rugby back row, Jack O’Donoghue (No 6), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on Saturday, 14 January 2023.

O’Donoghue was sent off by the referee, Tual Trainini (France), in the 23rd minute of the match for tackling the Northampton Saints second row, David Ribbans (No 4) in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Ian Unsworth KC (England), Chair, Nigel Williams (Wales) and Martyn Wood (England|) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Thursday (19 January).

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 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Cell C Sharks wing, Makazole Mapimpi (No 11), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Union Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday, 14 January 2023.

Mapimpi is alleged to have made contact with the eye or eye area of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles scrum half, Maxime Lucu (No 9), in the 36th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Brian Campsall (England).

Antony Davies (England), Chair, Leon Lloyd (England) and Donal Courtney (Ireland) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday (18 January).

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.

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Red card – Elliott Obatoyinbo (Newcastle Falcons)

The Newcastle Falcons full back, Elliott Obatoyinbo (No 15), was issued with a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 3 match against Cardiff Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, 15 January January 2023.

Obatoyinbo was sent off by the referee, Vivien Praderie (France), in the 40th minute of the match for tackling the Cardiff Rugby wing, Jason Harries, (No 11) in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

The independent Disciplinary Committee and the date for the hearing will be confirmed as soon as possible.

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.

Misconduct complaints – Geoffrey Lanne-Petit and Section Paloise

EPCR has decided to bring misconduct complaints against the Section Paloise Attack Coach, Geoffrey Lanne-Petit, and against Section Paloise arising from the club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 1 match against the Toyota Cheetahs at Stade du Hameau on Saturday, 10 December 2022.

Lanne-Petit is alleged to have committed an act of misconduct in contravention of EPCR’s Disciplinary Rules in that he verbally abused the Assistant Referee, Hollie Davidson (Scotland), following the conclusion of the match.

Also, unidentified Section Paloise players, or persons connected with the club, are alleged to have committed acts of misconduct in contravention of EPCR’s Disciplinary Rules in that they harassed the match officials following the conclusion of the match.

Gareth Graham (England), Chair, David Humphreys (Ireland) and Donal Courtney (Ireland) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Tuesday 17 January).