Two strikes cited in Pro12

Ben Te'o, the Leinster centre and Roger Wilson, the Ulster loose forward appeared before an independent Pro12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee for striking another player  in their respective matches.

 

Te'o received the citing complaint for an alleged strike to an opponent's head (in breach of law 10.4(a)) during the second half of the Pro12 match between Ospreys and Leinster on Friday, February 27.

 

The strike was alleged to have occurred when the player, while carrying the ball, was tackled by an opponent and (in the words of the Citing Commissioner) 'struck out with a leading forearm'.

 

The opponent was injured in the incident and left the field.

 

The Disciplinary Committee, having listened to representations by and on behalf of the player, and having viewed television footage of the incident and reviewed the other evidence, concluded that the player's actions had constituted foul play.

 

Accordingly, the Disciplinary Committee upheld the citing.

 

But when considering sanction the Disciplinary Committee found that the act of foul play had not warranted a red card and therefore imposed no suspension.

 

The Disciplinary Committee did however warn the player as to his future conduct with regard to the use of the forearm in the tackle, noting that this was an increasing and worrying trend in the game. 

 

Wilson allegedly lashed out at an opponent during the second half of the match between Ulster and Scarlets on Friday February 27.

 

The Disciplinary Committee found that Wilson had committed an act of foul play which would have warranted a red card and considered it to be reckless rather than intentional, and at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions for this type of offence, which carries an entry-point of two weeks.

 

The Committee found that there were no aggravating factors, and after taking into account the mitigating factors, they reduced the entry point by one week and imposed a one week suspension. 

 

The player is suspended from playing until midnight on Sunday March 8, and has the right of appeal.