- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Wallabies captain James Horwill has been cleared following an extraordinary International Rugby Board Appeal heard overnight.
Horwill will play in Saturday night’s third and deciding Test against the British & Irish Lions, after Independent Appeal Officer Graeme Mew, from Canada, this morning declined to uphold an IRB Appeal brought against Horwill after he was cleared of a foul play charge at a previous judicial hearing.
The judicial process has weighed down on the Wallabies, but the ultimate clearing of Horwill is a boost to the side ahead of the final Test in Sydney.
The Wallabies captain was initially cleared by Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton QC who found that on the balance of probabilities he could not find an intentional or deliberate action of stamping or trampling.
Horwill was alleged to have stamped or trampled on British & Irish Lions’ lock, Alun Wyn Jones, in the third minute of the opening Test of the Australia 2013 Lions Tour in Brisbane on Saturday 22 June.
Indpendent Appeal Officer Mew noted that “for the appeal to succeed the IRB would have to establish that there was some misapprehension of law or principle by the Judicial Officer or that his decision was so clearly wrong or manifestly unreasonable that no Judicial Officer could have reached the conclusion that he did.”
Following a two and a half hour appeal hearing conducted by video conference, and extensive deliberation for more than 12 hours, Mew concluded that the Judicial Officer had not made any errors of law or principle.
“There was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable Judicial Officer could have reached the decision that was made,” said Mew.
“Accordingly, it could not be said that the Judicial Offer was manifestly wrong or that the interests of justice otherwise required his decision be overturned.”
Mew also stated that the IRB’s appeal had been properly taken in the discharge of its responsibilities to promote and ensure player welfare and to protect the image and the reputation of the game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.