URC disciplinary process: 'The inconsistent product'

Stormers coach John Dobson has expressed his utter dismay over a three-week ban handed out to prop Sazi Sandi this week.

In an unmitigated broadside at the United Rugby Championship disciplinary process, Dobson suggested there is a ‘lack of consistency’ that is spoiling the game.

Sandi, who was issued with a red card for an incident in his team’s 34-18 win over Edinburgh in Cape Town last weekend, was slapped with a three-week ban at a disciplinary hearing this week.

Sandi and Edinburgh flank Jamie Ritchie collided head-on-head, with referee Frank Murphy ruling that the Stormers were at fault for the 74th-minute incident and showed him a red card.

The panel overseeing the disciplinary process – David Martin (Chairman), Kim Moloney and Chris Watts – ruled that the incident met the red card threshold, with an entry of mid-range warranting six weeks.

Sandi received full ‘mitigation’ due to his behaviour at the hearing and a clean record – which resulted in a three-week ban.

Should he complete a ‘Coaching Intervention Programme’, the sanction will be reduced by one week.

However, the Stormers’ management felt the young prop got the short end of the stick.

“As a team, as a management and group of players, we were absolutely flabbergasted with the Sazi Sandi outcome,” an apoplectic Stormers coach told a virtual media briefing on Friday – ahead of the team’s opening tour match against Zebre in Parma on Saturday.

“I don’t think anybody is more aware of the concerns for their safety than the players.

“Believe it or not, they know when somebody has done a cheap shot or that sort of thing.”

The Stormers coach said the disciplinary process needs some revision.

He expressed his sympathy for the young prop.

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“Fine, you can go on a Thursday after a game ban [a player] for three weeks, but it’s looking like an inconsistent product,” Dobson said.

“We should also be going back to other games and other situations and say: ‘That should have been a red card, here is three weeks.’

“Then, at least, everybody in the game understands what the standard is.

“If Sazi [Sandi] is the standard, no problem.

“I think we are losing players and the public with the inconsistency.”

Dobson added that another aspect of the process that concerns him about the Sandi case is that he doesn’t know what the prop could have done differently.

“I would understand if a player leads with an elbow in a carry, or something similar, and gets a red card. That’s understandable.

“That’s a player behaviour that should be changed.

“I’ve watched that Sazi Sandi clip about 100 times. I’m not sure what Sazi [Sandi] could have done.

“[It appears like] you are punishing a kid for stealing sweets at a tuck shop.

“I am not sure what they are telling Sazi not to do. I really don’t understand that.

“That [that lack of clarity of the message] is probably my frustration.

“A player should be treated with some dignity and respect through the process. I really feel for Sazi.

“We will take this up in our own way.

“We have had a few URC disciplinaries now, which we must try and stop, because it is frustrating in some ways..

“Sazi was brilliant when he came on last week. We are so excited about his future but we need to get him time in the saddle. So having him out for three weeks isn’t great, not for the team or Sazi’s development. He’s not coming here or to Wales, but we look forward to having him back.”

Dobson said there is no point in appealing the decision.

“You have to spend money and time [on the appeal process],” Dobson said, adding: “We need to focus on the rugby now.”

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