Melbourne backrower Scott Higginbotham will miss the Rebels’ last Super Rugby game of the season against the Bulls after receiving a one week suspension from governing body SANZAR.
According to the SANZAR judicial rules, Higginbotham was required to face a hearing after being shown his third yellow card of the 2014 season.
Higginbotham received yellow cards in round nine (professional foul), 14 (a late charge of the kicker) and 18 (lifting tackle).
SANZAR duty judicial officer Nicholas Davidson QC ruled the following:
“The final incident was regarded as more serious and for that reason, and the fact that the player had been sitting on two yellow cards and knew a judicial process would follow, a one-week suspension was imposed.
“These incidents are an indication of persistent offending which after scrutiny warrant further sanction.”
With the Rebels out of finals contention, Higginbotham has played his last Super game for the club this season.
PiratesRugby
Guest
That was not even a penalty much less a yellow card. Hardly a spear tackle, was it? MMM got carded and suspended but he's not called a penalty magnet. Horwill penalised when scores were level right in front. Again. Nonu pole axes some bloke without the ball in almost every Test match and the ref swallows his whistle. Simmons gets penalised for silly stuff in every Test. Higgers gets eye gouged and the other guy gets off. I just reckon Higgers is hard done by. He leads a very good forward pack with a papier-mâché back line. He's expected to do too much. It's a bit like Rocky Elsom before he went to Ireland. The refs were all over him for no good reason. Yet he goes to Leinster and he's hailed a hero. I hope he can stay in Melbourne. I love watching him play. I'd like to see him play for the Wallabies again but Fardy has 6 covered and McCalman is the sub for Palu. I reckon Higgers better than Fardy and McCalman.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
That's a weak decision. I saw the tackle and wasn't much in it. Warranted a yellow at the time but not a ban.
44bottles
Guest
Could it be a blessing in disguise for the Rebels? Can give a chance to all their backrowers now, without having such a penalty magnet at the back!