French player's World Cup hopes in balance after six-week ban
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: French forward Paul Gabrillagues’s World Cup hopes were in the balance on Tuesday after he was banned for six weeks for a tackle on Scotland flanker John Barclay last weekend.
The 26-year-old second-row forward hit Barclay with his shoulder in the 16th minute of France’s 32-3 win in Nice.
The disciplinary hearing in London, ruled that “the foul play was intentional, the offence took place at considerable pace and with considerable force to the opposition’s head such that the player sustained an injury.”
Disciplinary update: Paul Gabrillagues (France) https://t.co/0oBalLBruP #rugby via @worldrugby
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) August 20, 2019
The World Cup in Japan starts on September. The ban means that Grabrillagues, who has 13 France caps, will be out until October 7, by which point France will have played three of their four pool matches with only the potentially pivotal game against England on October 12 in Yokohama remaining.
He will miss the remainder of France’s warm-up match programme along with their pool games versus Argentina, USA and Tonga at the finals in Japan
The French Rugby Federation are considering an appeal, vice-president Serge Simon told AFP.
Last week, All Blacks lock Scott Barrett received a three-week ban for a shoulder charge into the face of Australian back row Michael Hooper on August 10.
France lock Paul Gabrillagues has been cited for this clearout against Scotland.
Foul play contrary to Law 9.20 (dangerous play in a ruck or maul). pic.twitter.com/x6h4JaaAXT
ADVERTISEMENT— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) August 18, 2019
