Barrett banned and Ah Wong warned

Jordie Barrett

Foul Play Review Committee: Stephen Hardy (Chairperson), Ofisa Tonu’u and Stefan Terblanche
Player: Jordie Barrett
Team: Hurricanes
Position: Centre
Date of Incident: 3 March 2024
Nature of Offence: Law 9.13 (A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously)
Elapsed time in match when offence occurred: 56:01

SANZAAR NEWS RELEASE

Jordie Barrett suspended for 3 weeks.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) has found Jordie Barrett of the Hurricanes guilty of contravening Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously, after they received a red card during a Super Rugby Pacific Match at the Weekend.

Barrett has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 22 March 2024.

The incident occurred in the 56th minute of the match between the Hurricanes and Reds at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 3 March 2024.

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 6 weeks, and after mitigating factors, the FPRC decided to reduce the sanction to 3 weeks.”

"The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including 22 March 2024.”

“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.”

Nigel Ah Wong

Player: Nigel Ah Wong
Team: Moana Pasifika
Position: Wing
Date of Incident: 2 March 2024
Nature of Offence: Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
Elapsed time in match when incident occurred: 53:50

Nigel Ah Wong issued a Warning

The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee reviewed the Red Card awarded to Nigel Ah Wong of Moana Pasifika for contravening Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously, during a Super Rugby Pacific Match at the Weekend.

Ah Wong has been issued with a Warning for his actions. A Warning may be issued by the Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in their opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold.

The incident occurred in the 53rd minute of the match between Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 2 March 2024.

The Super Rugby Pacific Foul Play Review Committee of Stephen Hardy (Chair), Stefan Terblanche and Ofisa Tonu'u assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chair 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 found the foul play did not breach the Red Card threshold."

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited aWarning as it was close to, but did not breach the Red Card threshold."

"In light of the above, the red card will be removed from the Player’s record and it will be replaced with a Warning sanction for the offence which will remain on the Player’s record."

"The player is therefore free to resume playing.”