One more week for Thomson
All Black flank Adam Thomson’s suspension for stomping was on Friday extended to two weeks at an IRB appeal hearing at Twickenham.
The IRB had appealed on the ground that the independent Judicial Officer’s first instance decision – a suspension of one week for trampling a Scotland loose forward Alasdair Strockosh under law 10.4(b) – had been ‘unduly lenient.’
The Appeal Committee, comprising Jeff Blackett (England), Pat Barriscale (Ireland) and Jeremy Summers (England), found that the application of the low-end entry point (two weeks) by the Judicial Officer had not been wrong (and on that point the appeal was not upheld).
The Appeal Committee went on to say that the Judicial Officer’s reduction of the entry point from two weeks to one week had not been consistent with IRB Regulation 17 (and on that point the appeal was upheld).
The Appeal Committee considered that the appropriate sanction in this case was two weeks.
Therefore, Thomson’s suspension was extended by the Appeal Committee to apply from 11 November 11 to November 25.
New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew, who attended the appeal hearing with Thomson, told Radio Sport he had no objections.
"We are very happy with the outcome. We think it is fair and appropriate," he said.
Thomson has already effectively served the ban after not being considered for last week's Test against Italy and this weekend's clash with Wales and will be available for selection to play England in London next week.
