Bath hooker banned for neck roll
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Bath will be without one of their key players when they resume their European campaign against Wasps in Pool One match at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.
Bath’s Ross Batty has been hit with a ban.
The Bath hooker, who was a second-half replacement, was sent off in the 63rd minute when attempting to clear out Worcester flank Sam Lewis with a neck roll which saw his opponent land on his head.
In a statement from the RFU it said: “Ross Batty of Bath appeared before a disciplinary panel.
“Batty was shown a red card by referee Ian Tempest in the 63rd minute of the match Worcester Warriors v Bath on Saturday, January 5. This was for dangerous play contrary to Law 9.11.”
Batty player accepted the charge and was suspended for three weeks.
He is free to play again on Tuesday, February 5.
“The player accepted his conduct involved a dangerous neck roll,” the panel chairman Jeremy Summers said.
“Given there was contact with the head a mid-range point was mandated. Taking in to account all the circumstances the panel was however satisfied that a top end entry point was not required.
“The player had a clear record, accepted the offence and plainly regretted his actions. As such a 50% reduction from the entry point was allowed.”
It means he will miss this weekend’s match against Wasps in the Champions Cup, followed by an away match against Toulouse in the same competition a week later.
He will also be ineligible for the Premiership match against Gloucester on February 2 at the Rec.
