Ellis Genge, the prop for Bristol Bears, will not be playing in their last two Premiership matches this season as he has been banned for three weeks.
This comes after he was given a yellow card by referee Luke Pearce during Bristol’s loss to Sale Sharks, despite the incident seeing his shoulder hit Tom Curry’s head. Genge was later cited and suspended for the hit.
Curry is also an England international.
Panel chair Matthew Weaver: ““Ellis Genge accepted the charge of dangerously tackling Tom Curry, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.13, prior to the hearing and, as such, the Panel needed to consider only the appropriate sanction.
“Having considered the incident, including viewing footage of it both in real time and in slow motion, and it being confirmed that Tom Curry had suffered no significant injury, the Panel were content that the appropriate entry point was the mandatory minimum of mid-range, being a six week suspension from playing.
“In light of his acceptance of the charge at the earliest opportunity, his apology to Tom Curry, and his previously good disciplinary record over a long career of over 150 top level matches and 40 international matches, the Panel were content to mitigate the suspension by the maximum 50%, reducing the suspension to a 3-week suspension.
“Ellis Genge has confirmed his intention to participate in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme which, if he is confirmed as eligible and conditional upon him completing the programme, will reduce his suspension to two weeks, meaning that he will be unavailable for Bristol Bears’ matches against Exeter Chiefs on 22nd April and against Gloucester on 6th May.”
NO BAN FOR OLLIE WOODBURN
The fate of Olly Woodburn was also decided after the Exeter Chiefs player controversially received a second yellow card in their 62-19 defeat to Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
Woodburn was deemed to have illegally prevented a try when he helped tackle Leicester’s Chris Ashton into touch.
SIX RUGBY PLAYERS IN THE SHAPE OF THEIR LIVES:
In fact, these players’ fitness levels put many 20- and 30-somethings to shame.
#1. Neil Back – 54
Moving into the fast-paced world of financial services and keeping up with the stream of ambassadorial roles, media commitments and speaking engagements Champions Celebrity secures on his behalf, Neil fell out of the training habit he’d been in for the majority of his life.
But then a chance conversation with his daughter’s Strength & Conditioning coach changed everything as he got back into the gym
