Four-week ban for Sharks' Bok
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: The European Cup disciplinary committee has revealed the verdict on two hearings – both the result of Round Two matches.
Sale Sharks No.8 Jean-Luc du Preez, one of several Springboks in the team, has been suspended for four weeks.
It follows a disciplinary hearing by video conference, arising from his club’s Champions Cup, Round Two match against Edinburgh at the AJ Bell Arena.
Du Preez was charged with having struck the Edinburgh flank Hamish Watson with his shoulder in a dangerous manner, and/or to have simultaneously tackled Watson in a dangerous manner, in the 70th minute of the match – in contravention of Laws 9.12 and 9.13 respectively.
The complaint was made by the match citing commissioner Eugene Ryan (Ireland).
The disciplinary committee – comprising Pat Barriscale (Ireland), as Chairman, Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Owain Rhys James (Wales), considered video imagery of the incident and heard submissions from Du Preez, who accepted that he had struck with his shoulder in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card.
They also heard from the Sale Sharks team manager Scott Needham, coach Paul Deacon and performance analyst Hugh Jenner.
Submissions from the EPCR disciplinary officer, Liam McTiernan, were also heard.
The committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Du Preez had struck Watson with his shoulder in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card in contravention of Law 9.12.
It then determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
There were no aggravating factors and taking into account the player’s guilty plea and expression of remorse, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.
Du Preez is free to play on Monday, January 18.
Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
Tom Wood: three-week suspension
Northampton Saints flank Tom Wood has been suspended for three weeks following an disciplinary hearing – arising from his club’s Champions Cup, Round Two match against Leinster Rugby at the RDS Arena.
Wood was alleged to have made contact with the Leinster flank Josh van der Flier above the line of the shoulders in a dangerous manner in the 69th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.20(b).
The complaint was made by the match citing commissioner John Montgomery (Scotland).
The disciplinary committee – comprising Roger Morris (Wales), as Chairman, Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) and Frank Hadden (Scotland) – considered video imagery of the incident and heard submissions from Wood, who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card.
They also heard from the player’s legal representative, John Shea, from the Northampton Saints team manager Maurice Hartery and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Wood had made contact with van der Flier’s neck and head area in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card.
It then determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
There were no aggravating factors and taking into account the player’s guilty plea and expression of remorse, the committee reduced the sanction by one week before imposing a three-week suspension.
Wood is free to play on Monday, January 11.
Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
