HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

Red card – Ma’ama Vaipulu (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)

The Union Bordeaux-Bègles No 8, Ma’ama Vaipulu, was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 2nd leg match against Stade Rochelais at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday, 16 April 2022.

Vaipulu was sent off by the referee, Wayne Barnes (England), for tackling the Stade Rochelais centre, Jonathan Danty (No 12), in a dangerous manner in the 26th minute of the match 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.

Marcello d’Orey (Portugal), chair, Leon Lloyd (England) and Sarah Smith (Scotland), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference this evening (Tuesday, 19 April).

Red card – Juan Cruz Mallia (Stade Toulousain)

The Stade Toulousain wing, Juan Cruz Mallia (No 14), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 1st leg match against Ulster Rugby at Le Stadium on Saturday, 9 April 2022.

Mallia was sent off by the referee, Wayne Barnes (England), in the 10th minute of the match for making contact with the Ulster Rugby wing, Ben Moxham (No 11), in the air in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.17

Law 9.17 A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.17 carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-range: 8 weeks; Top end: 12 to 52 weeks.

Sir James Dingemans (England), chair, Becky Essex (England) and Jamie Corsi (Wales), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference this evening (Tuesday, 19 April).

Red card – Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)

The Leicester Tigers back row, Ollie Chessum (No 6), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 2nd leg match against ASM Clermont Auvergne at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday, 16 April 2022.

Chessum was sent off by the referee, Andrew Brace (Ireland), in the 64th minute of the match for tackling the ASM Clermont Auvergne replacement wing, Samuel Ezeala (No 23), 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.

Pamela Woodman (Scotland), chair, Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Pat Barriscale (Ireland), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 20 April).

Red card – Tom O’Toole (Ulster Rugby)

The Ulster Rugby replacement prop, Tom O’Toole (No 18), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 2nd leg match against Stade Toulousain at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, 16 April 2022.

O’Toole was sent off by the referee, Matthew Carley (England), in the 65th minute of the match for tackling the Stade Toulousain back row, Anthony Jelonch (No 7), 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.

Gareth Graham (England), chair, Frank Hadden (Scotland) and Martyn Wood (England), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 20 April).

Red card – Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)

The Sale Sharks wing, Arron Reed (No 11), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 2nd leg match against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on Friday, 15 April 2022.

Reed was sent off by the referee, Frank Murphy (Ireland), in the 34th minute of the match for tackling the Bristol Bears wing, Luke Morahan (No 14), 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.

Kathrine Mackie (Scotland) has been appointed as the Judicial Officer to hear this matter on papers and a decision will be communicated at a later date.

Red card – Sefa Naivalu (Stade Français Paris)

The Stade Français Paris wing, Sefa Naivalu (No 14), was issued with a red card during his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 2nd leg match against Racing 92 at Paris La Défense Arena on Sunday, 17 April 2022.

Naivulu was sent off by the referee, Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), in the 34th minute of the match when he was shown a second yellow card. He received his first yellow card in the 18th minute for a dangerous lifting tackle on the Racing 92 centre, Henry Chavancy (No 12), in contravention of Law 9.18, and he received his second yellow card in the 34th minute for striking the Racing 92 full back, Louis Dupichot (No 15), with his shoulder in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.16.

Law 9.18 A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.18 carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 6 weeks; Mid-range: 10 weeks; Top end: 14 to 52 weeks.

Law 9.16 A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.16 carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.

Matthew Weaver (England), chair, David Humphreys (Ireland) and Chris Watts (Wales), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Thursday (21 April).

Citing complaint – Jules Plisson (Stade Rochelais)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Stade Rochelais replacement out half, Jules Plisson (No 22), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round of 16 2nd leg match against Union Bordeaux-Bégles at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday, 16 April 2022.

Plisson is alleged to have tackled the Union Bordeaux-Bègles replacement scrum half, Yann Lesgourgues (No 21), in a dangerous manner in the 76th minute of the match 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.

The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Gary Gordon (Scotland).

Antony Davies (England), chair, Gordon Black (Ireland) and Leon Lloyd (England), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 20 April).

EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

Red card – Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints)

The Northampton Saints out half, Dan Biggar (No 10), was issued with a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round of 16 match against Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on Saturday, 16 April (2022).

Biggar was sent off by the referee, Sam Grove-White (Scotland), in the 51st minute of the match for tackling the Gloucester Rugby centre, Chris Harris (No 13), 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.

Philippe Cavalieros (France), chair, Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) and Mitchell Read (England), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 20 April).

Red card – Alex Craig (Gloucester Rugby)

The Gloucester Rugby replacement second row, Alex Craig (No 19), was issued with a red card during his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round of 16 match against Northampton Saints at Kingsholm on Saturday, 16 April (2022).

Craig was sent off by the referee, Sam Grove-White (Scotland), in the 79th minute of the match for striking the head of the Northampton Saints replacement second row, Alex Coles (No 19), in contravention of Law 9.12.

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

David Martin (Ireland) has been appointed as the Judicial Officer to hear this matter on papers and a decision will be communicated at a later date.

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 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, 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/discipline/hearing-decisions when the disciplinary process is complete.
i) For World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, found at Appendix 1 to World Rugby Regulation 17, go to www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/regulations/reg-17/appendix-1

See below for details of disciplinary hearings arising from the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 2nd leg and EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16.