Toulon’s Romain Taofifenua was cited post match for kicking Ulster’s Stuart Olding in the head during their European Rugby Champions Cup fixture on the weekend, receiving a three week ban for the act.
The 24 year old French international lock was in danger of missing the upcoming November internationals if the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) decide it was a deliberate act.
A statement from the EPCR indicated possibility that Taofifenua could have faced a suspension of up to 52 weeks, however many believed (including the match commentators) that Taofifenua did not intentionally strike Olding in the back of the head, instead attempting to kick the ball out of the ruck as seen in many previous European club rugby matches.
There is no denying that it was a dangerous act from the Lock, highlighted by the slow motion replay which shows the brutality enforced on Olding and the sheer force of the kick causing severe whiplash.
Olding walked from the field aided by two medical staff and never returned due to a possible concussion.
Despite the various replays shown on the big screen in front of a cringing crowd, the television match official did not intervene and Taofifenua remained on the field.
France play host to Fiji, Australia and Argentina in the November Internationals which kick off next weekend for Les Bleus in Marseille.
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44bottles
Roar Guru
I think Castrogiovanni is on the bench for Hayman, or at least he has been the times I've seen them playing.
melbourneterrace
Guest
Clearly went for the ball.....
Nobrain
Guest
You can say Toulon plays in France, but it is a selection of world class players. Better than the BaaBaas playing on Sunday.
Todd Johnson
Guest
Its a ruck - you're not allowed to use your hands. The tactic of kicking the ball through has grown because of the mess of hands that has become the ruck. The bloke on the ground should have been covering his head like players did until the early 2000's - again a change since rucks became about hands and not feet. That being said, the bloke on his feet needs to be responsible for what he does and he should take more care if he is swinging his boot around like that. I actually thought the rule book was changed in the 70's or 80's to say that you couldn't ruck with anything but a backward motion and that you couldn't ruck with the point of the boot. This was prevent guys running in and kicking blokes on the ground. If that is the case then both of the points would make kicking a ball through out of ruck illegal
pjm
Roar Rookie
That could happen on any kick. Either ban it or don't ban players who miss and collect someones head.
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
Oh and thank whoever it is that acknowledged that there was rugby being played in the world other than the NRC and more news in world rugby than f-ing Di Patston and Kurtley f-ing Beale. I mean there was the ITM final, Currie final and Champions Cup matches going on and nobody who participates on here seemed to care! Any mention of McKenzie, Cheika, Patston or Beale got hundreds of hits and the very few (if any!) articles on actual rugby got very few comments or interest. Thats fine and Aus rugby is very inward looking but when you mention the growing power of such teams as Toulon, Clermont, Racing, Northampton or Saracens, all of a sudden, they are all experts that know that NH is inferior. Toulon have a squad that when fit can field 1) Barcella (Fra) 2) Burden 3) Castrogiovanni (Ital) 4) Botha (SA) 5) Williams (NZ) 6) Gorgodze (Geo) 7) Armitage (Eng) 8) Lobbe (Arg) 9) Michilack (Fra) 10) Sanchez (Arg) 11) Habana (SA) 12) Giteau (Aus) 13) Bastereaud (Fra) 14) JOC (Aus) 15) Halfpenny (Wal) and have names like D.Armitage, Suta, Wulf, Mitchell, J.Smith, Masoe, D.Smith and Hayman on the bench. But nobody cares!? Im not saying they would or should field that team but its just an example of the quality rugby teams that this rugby site doesnt even seem to acknowledge because its readers dont really seem to care.
Bakkies
Guest
I hope Olding is ok, some talent.
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
He did not intend to kick him, that was obvious. Still, I guess its his responsibility to know what hes kicking.