Red-carded No.8 cleared to play
NEWS: The Saracens No.8 Billy Vunipola has had his red card overturned.
The England loose forward appeared at disciplinary hearing, arising from an incident in his club’s Champions Cup Round One match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.
Vunipola was sent off by the referee Andrea Piardi (Italy) in the 52nd minute of the match for a dangerous strike to the head area – as he attempted to clear out Bulls No.8, Cameron Hanekom.
The card was issued for an action in contravention of Law 9.12 and Law 9.11.
Law 9.12 Physical abuse of an opponent: Punching or striking with hand, arm, elbow or shoulder
Law 9.11 Reckless or dangerous play: Leading with the elbow or forearm
An disciplinary committee – comprising Jennifer Donovan (Ireland), Chairman, Tony Wheat (Ireland) and Valeriu Toma (Romania) – viewed footage of the incident and heard evidence by video conference from Vunipola, who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card.
The committee also heard submissions from the Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall, from the Saracens team manager Warrick Lang, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer Liam McTiernan.
The committee determined that Vunipola had committed an act of foul play.
However, it decided that there was insufficient force in the contact to Hanekom’s head to warrant a red card, and the red card was therefore overturned.
Vunipola is free to play immediately and EPCR has the right to appeal the decision.
Kalaveti Ravouvou citing dismissed
The citing complaint against the Bristol Bears replacement wing Kalaveti Ravouvou, arising from his club’s Champions Cup Round One match against Lyon at Ashton Gate has been dismissed following a disciplinary hearing.
Ravouvou was alleged to have tackled the Lyon replacement Alexandre Tchaptchet in a dangerous manner in the 64th minute of the match – in contravention of Law 9.18.
The complaint was made by the citing commissioner Ed Kenny (Ireland).
Law 9.18: A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground
Roger Morris (Wales), Chairman, Valeriu Toma (Romania) and Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) viewed footage of the incident and heard evidence by video conference from Ravouvou, who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept that his actions warranted a red card.
The committee also heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Sam Jones, from the Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam, from the Bristol Bears team manager Jack Targett, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer Liam McTiernan.
The committee determined that Ravouvou had committed an act of foul play, and that the match officials were not wrong in issuing him with a yellow card.
However, it decided that his actions did not warrant a red card and the citing complaint was dismissed.
Ravouvou is free to play immediately and EPCR has the right to appeal the decision.
