Ciaran Parker suspended for two weeks

The London Irish prop, Ciaran Parker, has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the DHL Stormers at the Gtech Community Stadium.

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, in contravention of Law 9.20.

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

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising David Martin (Ireland), Chair, Valeriu Toma (Romania) and Chris Watts (Wales) heard submissions from Parker, who accepted the red card decision, from the London Irish Director of Rugby, Declan Kidney, from the London Irish Team Manager, Alex James, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

Following submissions, the committee upheld the red card decision, but decided that the incident should be considered as being in contravention of Law 9.20 (b) which refers to dangerous play at a ruck or maul when a player makes contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.

Law 9.20 (b) A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20 (b) carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 4 weeks; Top end: 8 to 52 weeks

It determined that Parker entered the ruck dangerously making contact with Fourie above the line of the shoulders, that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

Due to the player’s clear disciplinary record and his guilty plea, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a two-week suspension.

Parker is free to play on Monday, 30 January 2023, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 23 January 2023.

Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Ben Loader suspended for three weeks

The London Irish full back, Ben Loader, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against the DHL Stormers at the Gtech Community Stadium.

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, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

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

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Simon Thomas (Wales), Chair, Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) and Tony Wheat (Ireland) heard submissions from Loader, who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, from the London Irish Director of Rugby, Declan Kidney, from the London Irish Team Manager, Alex James, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that in carrying out the tackle in a dangerous manner, Loader had made contact with Libbok’s head. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

As the player has a clear disciplinary record, and as there were no aggravating factors, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

Loader is free to play on Monday, 13 February due to London Irish’s fixture schedule, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 30 January.

Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Jack O’Donoghue suspended for three weeks

The Munster Rugby back row, Jack O’Donoghue, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Northampton Saints at Thomond Park.

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, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

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.

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Ian Unsworth KC (England), Chair, Nigel Williams (Wales) and Martyn Wood (England) heard submissions from O’Donoghue, who accepted the red card decision, from the Munster Rugby Team Manager, Niall O’Donovan, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that in carrying out the tackle in a dangerous manner, O’Donoghue had made contact with Ribbans’ head. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

As the player has a clear disciplinary record, and as there were no aggravating factors, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

O’Donoghue is free to play on Monday, 20 February due to Munster Rugby’s fixture schedule, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 30 January.

Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Makazole Mapimpi suspended for two weeks

The Cell C Sharks wing, Makazole Mapimpi, has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Union Bordeaux-Bègles at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

Mapimpi was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Brian Campsall (England), for making contact with the eye or eye area of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles scrum half, Maxime Lucu, in the 36th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.

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.

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Antony Davies (England), Chair, Leon Lloyd (England) and Donal Courtney (Ireland) heard submissions from Mapimpi, from the player’s legal representative, Attie Heyns, from the Cell C Sharks Team Manager, Trevor Barnes, and from the Cell C Sharks Head of Team Culture, André Barnard.

Evidence and submissions were also heard from Lucu and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Mapimpi had made reckless contact with Lucu’s eye area which warranted a red card and it determined that the offending was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

Due to the player’s clear disciplinary record, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a two-week suspension.

Mapimpi is free to play on Monday, 30 January and both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Elliott Obatoyinbo suspended for three weeks

The Newcastle Falcons full back, Elliott Obatoyinbo, has been suspended for three weeks after being issued with a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round 3 match against Cardiff Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park.

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, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

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.

As Obatoyinbo had accepted the charge, an independent Judicial Officer, Pat Barriscale (Ireland), considered the matter on written submissions, and he upheld the red card decision, determining that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

Due to the player’s clear disciplinary record and his guilty plea, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the Judicial Officer therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

Obatoyinbo is free to play on Monday, 13 February due to Newcastle Falcons’ fixture schedule, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 6 February.

Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP