Dylan Hartley citing dismissed
The Northampton Saints hooker, Dylan Hartley, has had a citing complaint against him dismissed following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London today (Wednesday, 25 October) arising from his club’s Champions Cup, Round 2 match against ASM Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Dylan Hartley gets a yellow card for the swinging arm on Rabah Slimani. The commentators say accidental. What do you think?
🎥BT Sport pic.twitter.com/eJ3xrOVBXj— EatSleepRugby (@eatsleeprugby) October 22, 2017
Hartley was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Douglas Hunter (Scotland), for striking the ASM Clermont Auvergne prop, Rabah Slimani (No 3), in the 30th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (a). He was shown a yellow card by referee, Ben Whitehouse (Wales), following the incident.
Law 10.4 (a) Striking with the hand
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (a), striking with the hand, carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 4 weeks; Top end: 8 to 52 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Jeremy Summers (England), Chairman, Rhian Williams (Wales) and Frank Hadden (Scotland) heard evidence and submissions from Hartley, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, from Northampton Saints’ legal representative, Sam Jones, and from Northampton Saints Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder. The Committee also heard evidence and submissions from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The Committee found that Hartley had committed a reckless act of foul play in that he had struck Slimani in the face, however, the Committee was not satisfied that the offence had warranted a red card.
The citing complaint was therefore dismissed and Hartley is free to play.
Dmitrii Gerasimov suspended for nine weeks
The Enisei-STM centre, Dmitrii Gerasimov, has been suspended for nine weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London today (Wednesday, 25 October) arising from his club’s Challenge Cup, Round 2 match against Dragons at Slava Stadium, Moscow.
Gerasimov was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Jean-Claude Lunel (France), for striking the Dragons flanker, Ollie Griffiths (No 7), with his elbow in the 23rd minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
Law 10.4 (a) Striking with the elbow
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (a), striking with the elbow, carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Julian Morris (England), Chairman, Richard Cole (Wales) and Paula Carter (England), heard evidence and submissions by video conference from Gerasimov, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, from the Enisei-STM administrator, Anastacia Yuronina, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The Committee upheld the citing complaint on the basis that the strike was with the shoulder, and determined that the offence had warranted a red card. Ollie Griffiths suffered a broken jaw as a result of Gerasimov’s strike, and taking into account the seriousness of the injury, the Committee found that the offence was at the top end of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected 12 weeks as the appropriate entry point.
As there were no aggravating factors, the Committee then reduced the sanction by three weeks due to the player’s clean disciplinary record before imposing a suspension of nine weeks.
The exact date when Gerasimov is free to play will be decided once the match schedules of Enisei-STM and the Russia national team are confirmed. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.