Skelton appeal dismissed

 

Michael Cheika was optimistic that Skelton's charges would be dropped. So much so, that Skelton travelled with the team to South Africa for their two-match tour.

 

The SANZAR appeals committee – chaired by Lex Mpati (South Africa) and comprising Adam Casselden (Australia) and Chris Morris (New Zealand) – unanimously dismissed the appeal brought by the Waratahs against the decision of a judicial hearing that found Skelton had contravened Law 10.4 (j) – Lifting Tackle.

 

The appeal was dismissed on the basis that the appellant was unable to prove that the judicial officer's initial finding was in error, or that the sanction imposed was manifestly excessive.

 

The appeal was based on the argument that if Silatolu Latu did not participate in the tackle, the tackled player would not have been taken through the horizontal such that his upper body came into contact with the ground first.

 

But the committee was not moved by the submissions made on behalf of Skelton.

 

The committee found no fault with the judicial officer's finding and determined that the initial two-week sanction to be appropriate. As such, the player remains suspended from all forms of the game for two weeks up to and including Saturday June 6 2015.

 

Latu's appeal was also unsuccessful and he is suspended from all forms of the game for four weeks up to and including Saturday June 20 2015.