Phillips cops three-week ban

Scarlets wing, Kristian Phillips, has received a three-week ban after he was guilty of a dangerous tackle in the Pro12 match against Ospreys.

He appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee in Dublin on Wednesday, following a citing for an alleged dangerous tackle in contravention of Law 10.4(j).

Following an acceptance of guilt by the player, the Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Pat Barriscale, along with George Spotswood and Tommy Dalton (all of Ireland), having heard representations made by and on behalf of the player, viewed the TV footage and reviewed all other evidence, upheld the citing complaint and found that the act warranted a lower-end entry point under World Rugby's sanctions for this type of offence, carrying a four-week playing suspension.

Taking into consideration the requirement for deterrence for this type of offending, the Committee added a week to the entry point. They then considered the lack of other aggravating factors and the considerable mitigating factors, including the player's exemplary disciplinary record, and applied a final sanction of three weeks.

Kristian Phillips is free to resume playing on Monday, January 19, 2015 and has the right of appeal.

Law 10.4(j): Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player's feet are still off the ground such that the player's head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.