Previous Suspensions For Kicks To The Head

Previous Suspensions For Kicks To The Head

All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett will be free to play against Argentina this weekend after a SANZAAR Judicial Committee Hearing found him not guilty of contravening Law 9.11 after he was issued with a Red Card during a Rugby Championship match at the weekend.

In his finding, the Judicial Committee Chair Robert Stelzner SC ruled the following:

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player, a medical report on the opposition player involved, and from two expert witnesses, and having considered the submissions from his legal representative, Stephen Cottrell, the Judicial Committee found that the Player had not transgressed Rule 9.11 and had therefore not committed an act of foul play.

 


 


He legitimately went up in the air to collect a high ball, when in trying to regain his balance on the downward trajectory, his boot inadvertently made contact with his opponent’s head. The accidental nature of the incident lead the Judicial Committee to find that there was no intentional nor reckless act of dangerous play, with the result that the Red Card is expunged from the player’s record."


"The player is, therefore, free to play in the upcoming matches.”


While Barrett was lucky enough to escape a sanction, six players previously were not.

Kevin Millar, who writes for ontopofthemoon.com, Scottish Rugby Blog and Glasgow Warriors tweeted a list of players who have been sanctioned for similar incidents.

 

 

Tevita Nabura - 6 weeks

Highlanders' winger Tevita Nabura was handed a 6-week ban for his kick out against the Waratahs back in 2018.

 

 

Paolo Odogwu - 6 weeks

Wasps wing Paolo Odogwu was been banned for six weeks after he pleaded guilty to kicking Sale centre Rohan van Rensburg in the face.

Odogwu's sanction was made worse, however, due to the player's actions after receiving the red card. 

 

 

Hearing chairman for Odogwu's disciplinary, Dan White, said: "The panel did not accept the player's explanation that his leg extended to assist his balance in the air and prevent him from falling backwards.

"The panel found that, while he did not intentionally aim to make contact with the Sale player's face, he did intend to use his outstretched leg to fend off a potential oncoming player and was reckless as to whether or not it made contact or caused injury.

 

"In this case the dangerous action of the player resulted in a minor injury to the Sale player.

"In our opinion this was nevertheless a top end entry point; his disrespectful behaviour to the referee and crowd, after receiving the red card, only served to reinforce our view.

"His behaviour reflected poorly on the player and the game as a whole."

 

Dan Evans - 4 weeks

Ospreys full-back Dan Evans was given a four-week ban after being sent off just 37 seconds into the Heineken Champions Cup match against Racing 92 back in 2019.

Evans was shown a red card by referee Frank Murphy after his boot made contact with Teddy Thomas' face as he caught a high ball.

 
 

 

Adam Hastings - 3 weeks

Adam Hasting was handed a three-week ban after he raised his lead leg and his boot made contact with Cian Kelleher's face earlier this year.

Given the mitigating factors, in this case, including the player's acceptance of foul play, a 50 per cent reduction was applied to the default ban of six weeks.

 

 

Lester Etien - 3 weeks 

Finally, Stade Francais winger Lester Etien got three weeks for this kick on Clermont fullback Kotaro Matsushima.

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