Willemse in hot water

NEWS: Montpellier’s Paul Willemse and Benetton’s Giacomo Nicotera will be facing the music after they received red cards in the Challenge Cup over the weekend.

Willemse was issued with a red card during Montpellier’s Round of 16 match against Ulster at the GGL Stadium on Sunday.

Willemse was sent off by the referee, Ben Whitehouse (Wales), in the 41st minute of the match for tackling the Ulster Rugby fullback, Will Addison, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.

Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: Two weeks; Mid-range: Six weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.

Benjamin Rutherford (Ireland), Chair, Bogdan Zebega (Romania) and Leon Lloyd (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Benetton hooker Nicotera was issued with a red card during his club’s Round of 16 match against the Lions at Stadio Communale di Monigo on Saturday.

Nicotera was sent off by the referee, Christophe Ridley (England), in the 44th minute of the match for clearing out the Lions lock Darrien Landsberg, at a ruck in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 20b.

Law 9.20b A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.20b carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: Two weeks; Mid-range: Four weeks; Top end: Eight to 52 weeks.

The case will be heard by Matthew O’Grady (England) on a papers only basis as soon as practicable.