Red-card magnet Umaga gets another ban
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Wasps’ Jacob Umaga is set for another frustrating stint on the sidelines.
Umaga received a four-week ban, following last Saturday’s red card against Toulouse in his first game back – following a three-game ban for a Boxing Day red card.
The one-cap England flyhalf wasn’t meant to be available for selection to face the defending Champions Cup champions in Coventry last weekend and he had been banned for three games following his December 26 sending off versus London Irish in the Premiership.
However, he exercised the facility to get the final week of his suspension scratched by successfully completing the World Rugby tackle school initiative, freeing him to get chosen at full-back in last weekend’s round three European encounter.
His return, though, was abruptly ended on 34 minutes when he was sent off by referee Chris Busby for tackling Toulouse scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo in an allegedly dangerous way.
That resulted in him having to attend yet another disciplinary hearing and on this occasion, the sanction was more severe than the punishment handed down last month.
An EPCR statement read: The independent disciplinary committee comprising Roddy Dunlop (Scotland, as chairman), Tony Wheat (Ireland) and Olly Kohn (Wales) considered video imagery of the incident and heard evidence and submissions from Umaga, who accepted the red card decision, from Wasps team manager Dave Bassett, and from EPCR disciplinary officer Liam McTiernan.
“The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that Umaga had made contact with Page Relo’s head in a dangerous manner.
“It then determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.
“As this was the player’s second appearance before a disciplinary committee for a similar offence this season, it was decided not to grant the full 50 percent mitigation, and consequently, the committee reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.”
Umaga is free to play on February 14.
Source: RugbyPass
