RFU SHORT JUDGMENT FORM RFU REGULATION 19 Match Sale Sharks London Irish Club level 1 Competition Aviva Premiership Date of match 15/09/2017 Match venue Sale Sharks PAGE 1 PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE Player s surname Cowan Date of birth 21.04.1986 Forename(s) Blair RFU ID number 00940411 Club name London Irish Plea Admitted Not admitted Offence 10.4(m) - 2 yellow cards SELECT: Red card Citing Other Hearing date 19/09/2017 Hearing venue Papers only Chairman Michael Short Secretary Rebecca Morgan Panel member 1 n/a Panel member 2 n/a Decision Proven Not proven Other disposal (please state) HEARING DETAILS ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF CITING/REFEREE S REPORT/DVD FOOTAGE The Player received two yellow cards in the above match. The first yellow card was issued in the 54 th minute of the match for a technical offence of collapsing a maul. The Referee report stated that the action prevented a probable try being scored. The second yellow card was awarded in the 67 th minute of the game for an act of foul play. The yellow card report filed by the Referee read as follows:- In the 67th minute of the second half, a Sale player made a tackle on a London Irish player approximately 10 metres from the London Irish line. I stopped the game immediately as the Sale players head collided with the head of his opponent he was tackling. The TMO, Stuart Terheege, then asked me to review an incident, which I then did. Watching the big screen I noticed that as the Sale player was on the floor, the London Irish 7 arrived at the tackle and without attempting to grasp, charged into the Sale player on the floor. This was the London Irish 7 second yellow card of the game, I therefore showed him a second yellow card and then a red card. The Sale player received treatment, thought it would be for the medics to advise whether that was with regard to the initial tackle or subsequent foul play. The Sale player continued after treatment. The Player did not challenge the foul play yellow card and consented to the matter being dealt with on the papers. The England rose is an official registered trade mark of the Rugby Football Union and is the subject of extensive trade mark registrations worldwide.
PAGE 2 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF CITING/REFEREE S REPORT/DVD FOOTAGE CONTINUED
PAGE 3 ASSESSMENT OF SERIOUSNESS REGULATION 19.11.8 PLEASE TICK APPROPRIATE BOX Intentional/deliberate 19.11.8(a) Reckless 19.11.8(b) Gravity of player s actions 19.11.8(c) Neither serious enough to warrant the issue of a red card. Nature of actions 19.11.8(d) One technical offence of collapsing a maul and a second foul play offence of dangerous charging. Existence of provocation 19.11.8(e) Whether player retaliated 19.11.8(f) Self-defence 19.11.8(g) Effect on victim 19.11.8(h) The Sale Sharks player received treatment but it was not clear if that was as a result of the initial tackle or the subsequent charging by LI7. Effect on match 19.11.8(i) Vulnerability of victim 19.11.8(j) The victim was in a vulnerable position on the ground having been involved in a tackle immediately before that had involved a clash of heads. Level of participation/premeditation 19.11.8(k) This was not a premeditated act. Conduct completed/attempted 19.11.8(l) The conduct was complete. Other features of player s conduct 19.11.8(m)
PAGE 4 ASSESSMENT OF SERIOUSNESS REGULATION 19.11.8 CONTINUED Entry point Top end* weeks Mid-range weeks Low end 0 weeks *If top end, the Panel should identify an entry point between the top end and the maximum sanction (19.11.9) - see Appendix 2 In making the above assessment, the Panel should consider the RFU guidance (Note 2) set out in Appendix 5 to Regulation 19. Significant weight should be given to RFU regulation 19.11.8(a), 19.11.8(h) and 19.11.8(i). Reasons for entry point: The sanction table set out at Appendix 1 to RFU Regulation 19 determines that the sanction for 2 yellow cards (where one is given for a technical offence) is sending off sufficient. ADDITIONAL RELEVANT OFF-FIELD AGGRAVATING FACTORS (REGULATION 19.11.10) Player s status as an offender of the Laws of the game 19.11.10(a) The player has a clear disciplinary record. Need for deterrent 19.11.10(b) applicable Any other off-field aggravating factors 19.11.10(c) applicable Number of additional weeks: 0 weeks
PAGE 5 RELEVANT OFF-FIELD MITIGATING FACTORS (REGULATION 19.11.11) Acknowledgement of guilt 19.11.11(a) The Player accepted the charge and did not seek to challenge the yellow card for foul play. Player s disciplinary record/good character 19.11.11(b) The Player has a clear disciplinary record. Youth & inexperience of player 19.11.11(c) Conduct prior to and at hearing 19.11.11(d) The Player consented to the matter being dealt with on the papers. Remorse & timing of remorse 19.11.11(e) Other off-field mitigation 19.11.11(f) Number of weeks deducted: 0 weeks NOTE: SUBJECT TO REGULATION 19.11.13, A DISCIPLINARY PANEL CANNOT APPLY A GREATER REDUCTION THAN 50% OF THE RELEVANT ENTRY POINT SUSPENSION SANCTION Banned from Banned to Ban split from Ban split to Free to play Total sanction 0 weeks Sending off sufficient Costs 250 Final date for appeal: 20/09/2017 NOTE: UNDER RFU REGULATION 19.5.2, PLAYERS ORDERED OFF ARE PROVISONALLY SUSPENDED PENDING THE HEARING OF THEIR CASE, SUCH SUSPENSION SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN SANCTIONING Signature (Chairman) Signature (Secretary) Michael Short Date 19/09/2017 Rebecca Morgan Date entered to GMS 19/09/2017 Additional information:-