All Black suspended for three weeks

NEWS: Jordie Barrett of the Hurricanes has been suspended for three weeks following an incident that happened against the Reds in a Super Rugby Pacific match over the weekend.

Barrett was initially shown a yellow card on Saturday for a high tackle on Reds fullback Jordan Petaia, which was upgraded to a red card after a review by the television match official.

The nail-biting 38-33 win over the Reds in Melbourne was Barrett's 100th appearance for the Wellington-based Super Rugby team.

The scores were tied at 26-26 when Barrett was carded midway through the second half.

The contest went to a golden point with Hurricanes replacement prop Pasilio Tosi scoring the winning try in extra time.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) found that Barrett was guilty of contravening Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously, after receiving a red card.

Barrett has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including March 22.

The incident occurred in the 56th minute of the match between the Hurricanes and Reds in Melbourne on March 3.

The Foul Play Review Committee, comprised of Stephen Hardy (Chairperson), Ofisa Tonu’u and Stefan Terblanche, assessed the case.

In his finding, the FPRC Chairperson Stephen Hardy ruled the following:

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the red card given to the player under Law 9.13."

“Following the World Rugby Head Contact Process, the FPRC assessed the player's actions as having directly contacted the head, at high speed, with high force and while the player's body position was always upright into the collision.”

"The FPRC considered the act of foul play was always-illegal. In those circumstances, no mitigation was applied."

"The FPRC concluded that the foul play warrants a mid-range entry point of six weeks, and after mitigating factors, the FPRC decided to reduce the sanction to three weeks.”

"The player is therefore suspended for three weeks, up to and including March 22.”

“The FPRC had also confirmed that, after reviewing the incident and the Player’s record, the Player is eligible to apply for the "Head Contact Process - Coaching Intervention" with World Rugby.”