The disciplinary hearings for Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers) and Maselino Paulino (Scarlets) took place today.

Tom Youngs suspended for one week

The Leicester Tigers player, Tom Youngs, has been suspended for one week following an independent Disciplinary Hearing today (Wednesday, 27 January 2016).

Youngs was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Peter Ferguson (Ireland), for striking the Stade Francais Paris prop, Rabah Slimani (No 3), in the 52^nd minute of the European Rugby Champions Cup Round 6 match at Stade Jean Bouin in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).

Law 10.4 (a) Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (a), Striking with a hand, arm or fist, carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 8 to 52 weeks

The independent Judicial Officer, Roger Morris (Wales), heard evidence and submissions from Youngs, who accepted that he committed an act of foul play, from the Leicester Tigers Chief Executive, Simon Cohen, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

In upholding the citing complaint, the Judicial Officer found that Youngs had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card. He determined that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected two weeks as the appropriate entry point.

He reduced the sanction by one week due to the player’s clean disciplinary record, expression of remorse, good character and good conduct during the hearing before imposing a suspension of one week.

Youngs is free to play on Monday, 1 February 2016. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Maselino Paulino suspended for three weeks

The Scarlets player, Maselino Paulino, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing today (Wednesday, 27 January 2016).

Paulino was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Yves Thieffine (France), for striking the Northampton Saints second row, Courtney Lawes, in the 49^th minute of the European Rugby Champions Cup Round 6 match at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, 23 January 2016 in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).

Paulino was shown a yellow card for the incident by match referee, Pascal Gauzere (France).

Law 10.4 (a) Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (a), Striking with a hand, arm or fist, carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 8 to 52 weeks

The independent Judicial Officer, Jeremy Summers (England), heard evidence and submissions from Paulino, who pleaded guilty to the charge, from the Scarlets Team Manager, Garan Evans, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

In upholding the citing complaint, the Judicial Officer found that Paulino had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card. He determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and selected five weeks as the appropriate entry point.

He reduced the sanction by two weeks due to the player’s timely guilty plea, expression of remorse and good conduct at the hearing before imposing a suspension of three weeks.

Paulino is free to play on Monday, 15 February 2016. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Notes

(i) Citing Commissioner
a) Citing Commissioners are appointed by EPCR for all European Rugby Champions Cup and all televised 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.

(ii) Disciplinary Hearing
a) The independent Judicial Officer is chosen by the chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
b) The tournament Disciplinary Officer presents the case against the player.
c) If a citing complaint is upheld, the independent Judicial Officer will be required to consider the appropriate sanction. Under World Rugby's sanctioning regime, which EPCR is obliged to follow, the Judicial Officer will first assess the seriousness of the player's actions and determine which of the three stipulated entry points (lower end, mid range and top end) is the most appropriate.
d) The Judicial Officer will determine the appropriate entry point based on his/her 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 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.
g) Both parties to the hearing (EPCR and the player) have the right to appeal decisions of the independent Disciplinary Hearing. Appeals must be lodged within three (3) working days of receiving the full written decision of the Judicial Officer.
h) The full written decision of the Judicial Officer will be available on www.epcrugby.com/disciplinenews when the disciplinary process is complete i) For World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, found at Appendix 1 to World Rugby Regulation 17, please go to www.worldrugby.org