Kiwi 'referee was wrong'

DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Highlanders midfielder Sio Tomkinson has had the red card he received against the Chiefs last week dismissed by a Sanzaar judicial panel.

Tomkinson was handed a red card just minutes after coming off the bench during the Highlanders’ 30-27 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton. The centre was given his marching orders by referee Glen Jackson for a high shot on Chiefs captain Brodie Retallick.

The 22-year-old was charged with “contravening Law 9.13 Dangerous Tackling and Law 9.16 Dangerous Charge”

However, after appearing in front of a SANZAAR Judicial Committee Hearing, Tomkinson was found not guilty.

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According to the statement: “The Judicial Committee was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the referee was wrong in issuing the Red Card. The Committee determined to remove the red card from the Player’s record.”

“The Judicial Committee found that the Player made contact with his shoulder to the shoulder of the Chiefs player. On careful review of the footage, and on receiving further evidence as above, the Committee determined that the Player did not make contact with the head of the Chiefs player and he did attempt to use his arm in the attempted tackle,” the statement explained.

“The player is, therefore, free to play,”