Speight returns in August
Wallaby Henry Speight's appeal has been dismissed and will see the wing miss all but one Rugby Championship fixture, as his five week suspension is upheld.
The net result of this decision means that Speight will only be available to don the Wallaby jersey against New Zealand on August 8 while missing the matches against the Springboks in Brisbane (July 18) and in Buenos Aires against Argentina (July 25).
A SANZAR Appeals Committee, chaired by Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand) and comprising Lex Mpati (South Africa) and Terry Willis (Australia) unanimously dismissed an appeal brought by the Brumbies against the decision that found Henry Speight had contravened Law 10.4 (j) – Lifting Tackle.
The Committee dismissed the appeal on the basis that he was unable to show that the Judicial Officer's central factual findings, that the tackle involved both a lifting and driving, were in error.
The appeal brought against the five-week (four-match) suspension was unanimously dismissed, finding that the Judicial Officer had not erred in principle and that the sanction imposed was not manifestly excessive.
Speight's suspension from all forms of the game for five weeks will run up to and including Saturday July 25.
Law 10.4 (j) – Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player's feet are still off the ground such that the player's head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.
