Here are the details from the independent disciplinary hearings following Rounds 3 and 4 of the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup

Red Card – Davit Kubriashvili (Montpellier)

The Montpellier prop, Davit Kubriashvili (No 3), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Castres Olympique at Altrad Stadium on Sunday, 11 December 2016.
Kubriashvili was sent off by referee, Ben Whitehouse (Wales), for charging into a ruck in contravention of Law 10.4 (h).

David Martin (Ireland), Chairman, Hugh Logan (Ireland) and Jean-Philippe Lachaume (France) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place in London tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

Law 10.4 (h) Charging into a ruck or a maul without use of the arms or without grasping a player
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (h), carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks.

Red Card – Paul Willemse (Montpellier)

The Montpellier replacement, Paul Willemse (No 19), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 4 match against Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Antoine on Sunday, 18 December 2016.

Willemse was sent off by referee, Wayne Barnes (England), for charging into a ruck with his shoulder in the 61st minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (h).

David Martin (Ireland), Chairman, Hugh Logan (Ireland) and Jean-Philippe Lachaume (France) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place in London tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

Law 10.4 (h) Charging into a ruck or a maul without use of the arms or without grasping a player
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (h), carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks.

Red Card – Nans Ducuing (Bordeaux-Bègles)

The Bordeaux-Bègles wing, Nans Ducuing (No 14), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 4 match against Exeter Chiefs at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday, 17 December 2016.

Ducuing was sent off by referee, John Lacey (Ireland), for a tackle in the air on the Exeter Chiefs wing, Olly Woodburn (No 11), in the 49th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (e).

Rod McKenzie (Scotland) has been appointed as the independent Judicial Officer for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Thursday (22 December).

Law 10.4 (e) Dangerous tackling
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (e), Dangerous Tackling of an opponent, carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 6 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks.

Red Card – George Earle (Cardiff Blues)

The Cardiff Blues second row, George Earle (No 4), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Bath Rugby at the Recreation Ground on Thursday, 15 December 2016.

Earle was sent off by referee, Alexandre Ruiz (France), for making contact with the eye area of an opponent in the 44^th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).

Jeremy Summers (England), Chairman, John Doubleday (England) and Jean-Rene Hegoburu (France) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place in London tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

Law 10.4 (m) Acts Contrary to Good Sportsmanship
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (m) Contact with eye(s) or eye area, carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 12 weeks; Mid-Range: 18 weeks; Top End: 24 to 208 weeks.

Red Card – Sam Betty (Worcester Warriors)

The Worcester Warriors flanker, Sam Betty (No 6), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday, 16 December 2016.

Betty was sent off by referee, David Wilkinson (Ireland), for striking an opponent in the 15th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).

Rod McKenzie (Scotland) has been appointed as the independent Judicial Officer for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Thursday (22 December).

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.

Red Card – Mat Luamanu (Harlequins)

The Harlequins replacement, Mat Luamanu (No 20), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Timisoara Saracens at The Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, 17 December 2016.

Luamanu was sent off by referee, Thomas Charabas (France), for charging dangerously into an opponent in the 76^th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (g).

Roger Morris (Wales), Chairman, Tommy Dalton (Ireland) and Becky Essex (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place in London tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

Law 10.4 (g) Dangerous Charging
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (g) Dangerous charging of an opponent, carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks.

Red Card – Randall Morrison (Timisoara Saracens)

The Timisoara Saracens player, Randall Morrison (No 8), was issued with a red card during his club’s European Rugby Challenge Cup, Round 4 match against Harlequins at The Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, 17 December 2016.

Morrison was sent off by referee, Thomas Charabas (France), for a dangerous tackle on the Harlequins wing, Marland Yarde (No 14), in the 3^rd minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (e).

Roger Morris (Wales), Chairman, Tommy Dalton (Ireland) and Becky Essex (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

Law 10.4 (e) Dangerous Tackling
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (e) Dangerous tackling of an opponent, carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-Range: 6 weeks; Top End: 10 to 52 weeks.

Citing complaint – Maks van Dyk (Toulouse)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Toulouse replacement, Maks van Dyk (No 18), following his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 4 match against Zebre Rugby at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday, 17 December 2016.

Van Dyk is alleged to have struck an opponent in the 66^th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (a). The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Steve Savage (England).

Jeremy Summers (England), Chairman, John Doubleday (England) and Jean-Rene Hegoburu (France) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place in London tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

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.

Citing complaint – Etienne Falgoux (ASM Clermont Auvergne)

EPCR has received a citing complaint against the ASM Clermont Auvergne prop, Etienne Falgoux (No 1), following his club’s European Rugby Champions Cup Round 4 match against Ulster Rugby at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday, 18 December 2016.

Falgoux is alleged to have made contact with the eye area of the Ulster Rugby centre, Luke Marshall (No 13), in the 31st minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m). The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Jeff Mark (Wales).

Jeremy Summers (England), Chairman, Jean-Philippe Lachaume (France) and Becky Essex (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place in London tomorrow (Wednesday, 21 December).

Law 10.4 (m) Acts Contrary to Good Sportsmanship
Under World Rugby's Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (m) Contact with eye(s) or eye area, carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 12 weeks; Mid-Range: 18 weeks; Top End: 24 to 208 weeks.

Notes

(i) Red card
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