SANZAAR hands out three-week bans like candy
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE: Three-week bans seem to be the norm for SANZAAR disciplinary committees.
Western Force hooker Andrew Ready and Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa were both slapped with three-bans, after being red-carded in Super Rugby AU matches at the weekend.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee has accepted a guilty plea from Ready - for contravening Law 9.12: Striking, after he was red-carded at the Weekend.
Ready has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including March 26.
The incident occurred in the 64th minute of the match between the Waratahs and Force in Sydney this past Friday, March 5.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee of Adam Casselden (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Mike Mika assessed the case.
In his finding, foul play review committee Chairman Adam Casselden 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, Michael Tudori, the foul play review committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.12.
"With respect to sanction the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level.
"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's clean judicial record and pleading guilty at his first available opportunity the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.
"The player is therefore suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 26 March 2021. This includes the following fixtures:
* Round 4 Western Force v Melbourne Rebels 12 March 2021
* Round 5 Reds vs Western Force 20 March 2021
* Round 6 Brumbies vs Western Force 26 March 2021.”
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The SANZAAR foul play review committee also accepted a guilty plea from Alaalatoa - for contravening Law 9.13: Dangerous Tackling, after he was red-carded at the Weekend.
Alaalatoa has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including April 2.
The incident occurred in the 40th minute of the match between the Brumbies and Rebels in Canberra this past Saturday, March 6.
The SANZAAR foul play review committee of Adam Casselden (Chairman), Stefan Terblanche and Mike Mika assessed the case.
In his finding, foul play review committee Chairman Adam Casselden ruled: "Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player, the foul play review committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.13.
"With respect to sanction the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play involving contact with the head must start at a mid-range level.
"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's clean judicial record and pleading guilty at his first available opportunity the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.
"The player is therefore suspended from all forms of the game up to and including April 2.
"This includes the following fixtures:
* Round 4 Brumbies v Reds 13 March 2021
* Round 6 Brumbies v Western Force 26 March 2021
* Round 7 NSW Waratahs v Brumbies 2 April 2021.
"The Brumbies have a scheduled bye in Round Five, which does not count as a week for sanctioning purposes."
All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the foul play review committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.
For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the foul play review committee.