JOHN AFOA COULD be suspended for Ulster’s Heineken Cup semi-final if he is found guilty of an alleged “tip tackle” on Munster’s Felix Jones.
Afoa was cited this afternoon and will learn his fate when he appears at a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred early in the second half of Sunday’s quarter-final in Thomond Park, went unpunished by match referee Romain Poite who allowed play to continue after Afoa lifted Jones from the ground in a tackle.
Advertisement
After reviewing the evidence, citing commissioner Peter Larter of England filed a complaint against the New Zealander for dangerous play.
Law 10.4 (j) of the IRB rules prohibits “lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground.”
If found guilty, Afoa faces sanctions which begin at three weeks for a “low end” offence, rising to six weeks for a mid-range punishment and 10+ weeks at the higher end.
Although suspensions can be reduced in light of a player’s previous disciplinary record or mitigating circumstances, any ban is likely to rule the front-row out of the semi-final against Edinburgh in the Aviva Stadium on 28 April.
Ulster's Afoa cited for alleged 'tip tackle' on Jones
JOHN AFOA COULD be suspended for Ulster’s Heineken Cup semi-final if he is found guilty of an alleged “tip tackle” on Munster’s Felix Jones.
Afoa was cited this afternoon and will learn his fate when he appears at a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred early in the second half of Sunday’s quarter-final in Thomond Park, went unpunished by match referee Romain Poite who allowed play to continue after Afoa lifted Jones from the ground in a tackle.
After reviewing the evidence, citing commissioner Peter Larter of England filed a complaint against the New Zealander for dangerous play.
Law 10.4 (j) of the IRB rules prohibits “lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground.”
If found guilty, Afoa faces sanctions which begin at three weeks for a “low end” offence, rising to six weeks for a mid-range punishment and 10+ weeks at the higher end.
Although suspensions can be reduced in light of a player’s previous disciplinary record or mitigating circumstances, any ban is likely to rule the front-row out of the semi-final against Edinburgh in the Aviva Stadium on 28 April.
YouTube Credit: grimoald
Here are the 7 best bits of Craig Gilroy’s wonder try against Munster
Coughlan and Earls injury doubts for Munster
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
citing European Rugby Champions Cup Felix Jones John Afoa Munster Spear Tackle Edinburgh Tip Tackle Trouble Ulster