Reds captain and number eight Scott Higginbotham has been banned for three weeks for foul play during last weekend’s Super Rugby clash with the Rebels in Melbourne.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Higginbotham of the Reds for contravening 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.
He was red carded in the seventh minute of the match at AAMI Park on February 23, 2018.
Higginbotham has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks, up to and including Saturday March 17, 2018.
The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Nigel Hampton (Chairman), Stephen Hardy and John Langford assessed the case.
In his finding, Hampton ruled the following: "Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including a statement from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Mark Martin QC, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.13. This was an objectively dangerous tackle."
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks due to the Players direct contact by the Player's shoulder to his opponents head.
"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's good record over a long career, the lack of injury to the victim and his guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks."
"The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including the Saturday 17 March 2018.”
The post Three-week suspension for Scott Higginbotham appeared first on Planet Rugby.