BlitzBok Brown gets a big 'discount'

South Africa captain Kyle Brown has had his six-match suspension reduced on appeal to two matches.

This followed an appeal hearing at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, venue for the World Cup Sevens tournament.

Brown was cited by citing commissioner Yann Le Dore France for contact with the eye(s) or eye area in breach of Law 10.4(m), during South Africa's World Cup Sevens Pool B match against Scotland on Saturday, June 29.

Brown appeared before appeal officer Tim Gresson (New Zealand).

Having reviewed the case and considered all the evidence, Gresson was not persuaded that the judicial officer had erred in finding that Kyle Brown had committed an act of foul play – on the basis that in attempting to tackle Scotland No.2 high on the shoulder, he should have been aware of the inherent risk of contacting the face, eye area and ultimately, eye, as occurred.  

However, the appeal officer did consider that the offence was low-end reckless conduct and therefore determined the original minimum ordinary sanction of six matches was disproportionate.

He applied the exceptional circumstances provision to reduce the sanction further from the judicial officer's six-match suspension (from a 12-week entry point) to two matches, noting that there had been contact with a vulnerable part of the body, being the eye, as a result of the reckless tackle, which necessitated an appropriate sanction.   

Brown missed South Africa's Cup quarterfinal loss 910-12) to Fiji and their first match at the next tournament, being the World Games.

Faalemiga Selesele (Samoa) – Three match sanction

Faalemiga Selesele appeared before independent judicial officer, Jeremy Summers (England)  after being cited by citing commissioner Yann Le Dore (France) for tackling a player in the air in breach of law 10.4(i) in Samoa's World Cup Sevens 2013 match against Philippines on Saturday.

The player accepted that he had committed an act of foul play. The judicial officer, having heard all the evidence, upheld the citing and considered that the offence was mid-range which carries a six-week/match entry point.

Having also determined that there were no aggravating factors and that there were mitigating factors including a clean disciplinary record, the judicial officer reduced the sanction by one week (match).

The player is therefore suspended for Samoa's group match against Kenya on Saturday and the first two matches of the knock-out phase on Sunday.

The player has the right of appeal.

Lewis Holland (Australia)  – Three match sanction

Australia's Lewis Holland appeared before independent judicial officer, Jeremy Summers (England)  after being cited by citing commissioner Steve Scott (UAE) for a dangerous lifting tackle contrary to Law 10.4(j) in Australia's opening World Cup Sevens 2013 match against Spain.

The player wished to contest the offence. The judicial officer, having heard all the evidence, determined that the citing be upheld. He determined that the offence should merit the low-end entry point for the sanction which is four weeks/matches.

Having also considered the mitigating factors including a clean disciplinary record and determined no aggravating factors, the judicial officer reduced the sanction by one (week) match.

The player is therefore suspended for Australia's two pool matches against Tunisia and France on Saturday and the first match of the knockout phase on Sunday.

The player has the right of appeal.

Haithem Chelli (Tunisia) – Three match suspension

Tunisia Haithem Chelli appeared before independent judicial officer, Sheriff Katherine Mackie (Scotland) after being cited by citing commissioner James Absaloms (Kenya) for a strike with the hand, arm or fist contrary to Law 10.4(a) during Tunisia's opening World Cup Sevens 2013 match against France.

The player did not accept that he had committed an act of Foul Play and sought to contest the charge. The judicial officer, having heard all the evidence, determined that the citing be upheld. She determined that the offence should merit the mid-range entry point for the sanction which is five weeks/matches.

There were no aggravating factors.  The judicial officer then reduced the sanction by two weeks/matches for mitigating factors including a relatively clean record of just two yellow cards arriving at a final sanction of three weeks/matches.  

The player is suspended for Tunisia's two pool matches against Australia and Spain and the first match of the knockout phase on Sunday.

The player has the right of appeal.