Creevy gets slap on the wrist for hair-pulling stunt on Bok

NEWS: Argentinean international veteran Agustin Creevy was given a slap on the wrist for his stunt to pull the hair of an opponent in a European Challenge Cup quarterfinal match.

The London Irish hooker, Creevy, has been suspended for only one week, following a disciplinary hearing – arising from his club’s match against Toulon at Stade Félix Mayol at the weekend.

The French club won 19-18.

Creevy was cited by the match citing commissioner Eugene Ryan (Ireland) for pulling the hair of Toulon’s Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth in the 35th minute of the match – in contravention of Law 9.27.

The disciplinary committee – comprising Simon Thomas (Wales, Chairman) and Marcello D’Orey (Portugal) – heard submissions from Creevy, who accepted the charge, from the London Irish Director of Rugby Declan Kidney, the London Irish team manager Alex James and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer Liam McTiernan.

The committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Creevy had intentionally pulled Etzebeth’s hair in a manner that warranted a red card, and it then determined that the offence was at the low-end of World Rugby’s sanctions and two weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

On the basis that the player accepted that he had committed an act of foul play and had a good disciplinary record, it was decided to grant the full 50 percent mitigation and the committee, therefore, reduced the sanction by one week before imposing a one-week suspension.

Creevy will miss only the meaningless Premiership Cup Final against Worcester Warriors next Tuesday (May 17) and will be free to play next Wednesday (May 18).

Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.