Western Force flanker Hugh McMeniman has escaped with just a one-week ban after dropping his knee into Queensland Reds player Ben Lucas, but will still miss Friday’s must-win final-round clash against the Brumbies in Canberra.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the Force’s 30-20 win over the Reds in Perth on Saturday night, with McMeniman initially yellow carded and then cited post-match.
SANZAR judicial officer Nicholas Davidson QC accepted a guilty plea from McMeniman on Monday, noting that while the entry point for striking with the knee is three weeks, it was with no great force and “no more serious than another lower end striking sanction which carries a two-week entry point.”
“Together, with McMeniman’s outstanding disciplinary record over nine years, this warranted a discount to one week,” Davidson said.
Unfortunately for the Force, McMeniman’s guilty plea rules him out of their do-or-die battle against the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium.
With the Brumbies placed sixth and the Force seventh, the winner could secure a home qualifying final, while the loser could be knocked out of the playoff race.
If the Force win, it will be the first time the Perth-based club makes the Super Rugby finals in their nine-year history.
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.
Fijian Drua will try to end the 7-0 streak of the table-topping Hurricanes to kick off a spicy weekend of action that has split…
Four years after getting a taste of international coaching, Geoff Parling will return as the Wallabies’ new lineout coach. The Roar can reveal the…
And then, there were four. Super Rugby Women's enters it's final fortnight, and with the Reds and Rebels campaigns coming to a close, this…
Kurtley Beale will play his first Super Rugby match in 1494 days after being rushed straight into the Western Force's lineup to take on…
Izack Rodda’s stop-start career at the Western Force is about to get the green light once again, with the experienced Wallaby set to make…
At the midway point of the season, aside from the Western Force, the Australian Super Rugby Pacific teams have had a relatively successful campaign.…
