Nine-week ban for Welsh eye-gouger

Adam Beard of Wales has been slapped with nine-week suspension for eye-gouging.

The second row forward, Beard, was cited for an act of foul play contrary to Law 10.4(m): For making contact with the eye or eye area of an opponent – during their Under-20 Championship match with Ireland on Tuesday, June 7.

The player appeared at a hearing before judicial officer Mike Hamlin (England) on 9 June, 2016.

The player denied the act of foul play.

The judicial officer heard evidence from Kelvin Brown of Ireland and reviewed the video footage in addition to hearing from Beard and his representatives.

The judicial officer determined that the player had committed an act of foul play – being unlawful contact with the Irish player's right eye.

The player had not intentionally or deliberately targeted the eye of the Irish player.

However, the judicial officer found the contact to be reckless.  

The judicial officer determined this was low-end offending which carries an entry point of 12 weeks. The judicial officer aggravated the entry point of 12 weeks in accordance with the World Rugby memorandum by a further week. Mitigating factors were found to be present which justified a reduction in the sanction from 13 weeks to nine weeks.

In the context of the Under-20 Championship this equates to four matches, the player is therefore suspended for the remainder of the tournament. The remaining five weeks suspension will be served during the period from August 11 to September 10 inclusive. He is free to resume playing on September 11.

The player has 48 hours to appeal the decision.

* Australian Campbell Magnay – who received two yellow cards in his team's loss to Scotland – has been banned for two weeks.

The Australia outside centre, Magnay, was sent off following two yellow cards for offences contrary Law 10.4(j) (lifting a player from the ground) and Law 10.4(e) (dangerous tackling).

The player appeared at a hearing in Manchester before judicial officer Mike Hamlin (England) on Wednesday.

The player challenged the award of the first yellow card, which, after a review, was upheld by the judicial officer.

Hamlin determined an entry point of two weeks based on the circumstances of the two yellow cards, with no reduction given.

Accordingly Campbell Magnay is suspended for two U20 Championship matches (June 11 and 15 respectively) and is free to resume playing on June 16.

The player has 48 hours to appeal the decision.