Tahs pay dear price for foul play

NEWS: The Waratahs not only got crushed 41-7 in their season opener against the Reds in Brisbane at the weekend, but also lost one of their star players for three weeks in a foul play incident.

The Tah’s started off red hot with scrumhalf Jake Gordan scoring from a nifty Jack Maddocks pass off the ground inside of three minutes.

However, that was to be the only points in the game. ]

The Reds totally dominated for the rest of the 77 minutes – running in five tries to one, scoring three of those tries in first 20 minutes.

Sadly, in the 37th minute, the game was marred by Waratah centre Izaia Perese’s moment of recklessness when he spear tackled his opposite number Hunter Paisami into the ground.

Perese has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including March 19.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Izaia Perese of the Waratahs for contravening Law 9.18 Lifting Tackle, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby AU Match at the Weekend.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Adam Casselden SC (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Mike Mika assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Adam Casselden SC ruled the following:

“In submissions to the hearing, Perese pleaded guilty to the citing under Law 9.18.

With respect to sanction, the Foul Play Review Committee were cognisant of the fact that recent amendments to Appendix 1 of Regulation 17 meant that World Rugby’s directive, that any incident of foul play which results in contact with the head and/or neck shall result in at least a mid-range section, did not apply to a contravention of Law 9.18.

The Foul Play Review Committee, having conducted a detailed review of all of the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, determined that the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of 6 weeks. This was primarily due to the reckless rather than intentional nature of the action which ultimately placed Perese’s opponent in a vulnerable position but which did not cause an injury to the opponent.

When taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s clean judicial record and the fact the Player pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced his suspension to 3 weeks.”

“The Player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including Friday 19 March 2021.”