Here are the decisions from the independent Disciplinary Hearings following Round 2 of EPCR's tournaments.

Oliviero Fabiani suspended for nine weeks

The Zebre Rugby hooker, Oliviero Fabiani, has been suspended for nine weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London today (Wednesday, 26 October 2016) arising from the European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 2 match between Zebre Rugby and Connacht Rugby.

Fabiani was sent off by referee, Mathieu Raynal (France), for biting the Connacht second row, Quinn Roux, in the 29th minute of the match at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).

Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (m), Biting of an opponent, carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 12 weeks; Mid-Range: 18 weeks; Top End: 24 to 208 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Antony Davies (England), Chairman, Jean-Noel Couraud (France) and Daniel White (England) heard evidence and submissions from Fabiani, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from Zebre Rugby representative, Ernesto Cavatorti, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

In upholding the red card decision, the Committee found that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and selected 18 weeks as the appropriate entry point.

The Committee then decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 per cent – nine weeks - due to Fabiani’s timely guilty plea, expression of remorse and clean disciplinary record before imposing a suspension of nine weeks.

Fabiani will be free to play on Monday, 9 January 2017. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Johan Snyman suspended for five weeks

The Brive second row, Johan Snyman, has been suspended for five weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London today (Wednesday, 26 October 2016) arising from the European Rugby Challenge Cup, Round 2 match between Worcester Warriors and Brive.
Snyman was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Eddie Wigglesworth (Ireland), for a dangerous tackle on the Worcester Warriors player, Tom Heathcote, in the 49th minute of the match at Sixways Stadium in contravention of Law 10.4 (e).

Law 10.4 (e) Dangerous tackling
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (e), Dangerous tackling of an opponent including a tackle or attempted tackle above the line of the shoulders (even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders), carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 6 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks

An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Mike Hamlin (England), Chairman, Roddy Dunlop QC (Scotland) and Andrea Caranci (Italy) heard evidence and submissions from Snyman, who admitted foul play but who did not accept that the offence warranted a red card, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

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

The Committee added one week to the sanction as a deterrent in line with World Rugby's memoranda regarding dangerous tackles, and then reduced the sanction by two weeks due to the player's expression of remorse and good character, before imposing a suspension of five weeks.

Taking into account a one-week break in the TOP 14 match schedule, Snyman is free to play on Monday, 5 December 2016. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.

Notes

(i) Red Cards
a) The case of any player sent off in European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup games 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 European Rugby Champions Cup and 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.
(iii) Disciplinary Hearing
a) The independent Disciplinary Committee or independent Judicial Officer are chosen by the chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
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.
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/discipline/news.php 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