CONFIRMED: England centre out of Bok test
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: After weeks of dispute and confusion, England centre Alex Lozowski has been handed a four-week ban.
Lozowski initially cited for two incidents which occurred during Saracens’ Champions Cup, Round 1 match against Glasgow Warriors on Sunday, October 14.
One was for dangerously entering the ruck and making contact with the Glasgow Warriors hooker, Fraser Brown, in contravention of Law 9.20.
The other for an alleged dangerous tackle on the Glasgow Warriors fullback, Ruaridh Jackson, in contravention of Law 9.13.
Lozowski was given just two weeks suspension for entering a ruck dangerous.
However, the centre appealed the alleged act of foul play in a pursuit to be available for England’s Test against Springboks on Saturday.
Subsequently, ECPR appealed against the disciplinary committee’s decision to dismiss a second citing complaint against Lozowski arising from the Glasgow match.
And after numerous hearings, at a new independent Disciplinary Hearing, consisting of Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Jean-Noel Couraud (France) and Leon Lloyd (England), Lozowski was handed a four-week suspension for the dangerous tackle on Jackson.
This means the centre will miss England’s November Test opener against South Africa and will be free to play on November 12.
EPCR released a statement, which read: “The Committee upheld the citing complaint in that the act of foul play had warranted a red card and found that the offence [a dangerous tackle on Glasgow Warriors fullback Ruaridh Jackson in the 33rd minute] was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.
“There were no aggravating factors and due to the player’s clear disciplinary record and some expression of remorse, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.
“The Committee was not satisfied that Lozowski would not have been considered for selection for Saracens’ Premiership Cup match against Leicester Tigers on October 27, and as he had already served a two-week suspension for an unrelated offence, it was decided to backdate the suspension to the day of the citing,”
