Alex Craig suspended for three weeks

The Gloucester Rugby replacement second row, Alex Craig, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s EPCR Challenge Cup, Round of 16 match against Northampton Saints at Kingsholm.

Craig was sent off by the referee, Sam Grove-White (Scotland), in the 79th minute of the match for striking the head of the Northampton Saints replacement second row, Alex Coles, in contravention of Law 9.12.

Law 9.12 A player must not punch or strike with hand, arm, elbow or shoulder

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 carries the following sanction entry points - Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.

The Judicial Officer, David Martin (Ireland), considered the matter on papers and he upheld the red card decision, finding that Craig had struck Coles’s face in a reckless manner that warranted a red card. It was then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

As Craig had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card, and given his clear disciplinary record, it was decided to grant the full 50% mitigation and the Judicial Officer therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.

Craig is free to play on Monday, 2 May, and both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.