Chiefs flyer escapes punishment
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Chiefs wing James Lowe has had no further sanction imposed by the SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer after receiving a third yellow card.
Lowe was sent to the sin bin in the Chiefs' 15-16 defeat to the Rebels in Melbourne for striking centre Tamati Ellison with his knee.
According to the SANZAR Judicial Rules a player who has received three yellow cards or three Citing Commissioner Warnings (or any combination thereof) arising from matches in the same season shall be required to appear before the Duty Judicial Officer appointed for the match during which he last offended.
The Duty Judicial Officer then considers the circumstances in which each yellow card and/or Citing Commissioner Warning was imposed and determine whether any further penalty should be imposed on him by reason of his persistent foul play.
SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Nicholas Davidson heard the case and ruled that there should be no further punishment for Lowe.
"James Lowe received yellow cards in Round Three (tackling a player in the air), in Round Four (dangerous tackle) and in Round 12 (a strike with the knee).
"Application of Rule 6.1 requires consideration of the circumstances of each yellow card. Possible sanction is based upon repeat breaches and three such incidents are a pre-requisite to any sanction.
"The second yellow card was effectively, but not formally, set aside by the review conducted by the SANZAR Referee Performance Management Team, and supported by the World Rugby Referee Selection Committee. They considered that this tackle was legitimate and the yellow card was wrongly issued.
"The Judicial Officer would not lightly override those conclusions which means in this case, Lowe has in substance committed two yellow card offences. He did not therefore come up for possible sanction under Rule 6.1. The yellow cards in Round Three and 12 remain on his record this season.
"The yellow card in Round 12 was not the subject of a citing and does not call for consideration as such."
All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a Duty Judicial Officer hearing to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
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