Ashley Marsters suspended for three weeks

Australia front row, Ashley Marsters, appeared before an independent judicial committee on Monday having received a red card in Australia’s Rugby World Cup 2021 Pool A match on 15 October, 2022. The red card was awarded for an offence pursuant to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle).

The player did not accept that she had committed the act of foul play or that the offence was worthy of a red card. Having considered the player’s evidence and reviewed the clips, the Committee decided to uphold the red card. The Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a six-week suspension.

The Committee took into consideration the mitigating factors and decided that the player was entitled to the full mitigation available (three weeks). The Committee decided there were no aggravating factors and therefore the final sanction was a three-week suspension.

The player is therefore suspended for Australia’s last Pool A match against Wales on 22 October, with the remaining weeks to be determined once it is known if Australia have reached the knockout phase.

The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision.