Melbourne Rebels co-captain Scott Higginbotham is set to play against the NSW Waratahs on Friday after being cleared of stomping by a SANZAR judicial hearing.
Higginbotham was referred directly to the judiciary for the incident involving All Blacks legend and Crusaders flanker Richie McCaw.
The Rebels loose forward was reportedly surprised he had a case to answer given he did not receive a card during Melbourne’s 20-10 season-opening win over the Crusaders.
Higginbotham was backed in his argument that the contact was accidental by McCaw, and Adam Casselden who presided over the SANZAR hearing agreed.
“After hearing from the player and Mr Tim North QC and watching the video footage a number of times, I could not be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the player intentionally or deliberately stamped his opponent,” Casselden stated.
“I accepted the evidence of Mr Higginbotham that he was attempting to jump over his opponent who was rolling towards him when he miscalculated his jump and made accidental contact with the opponent’s head.
“This evidence was consistent with the evidence of Mr McCaw who stated that Mr Higginbotham immediately apologised to him after the incident saying it was accidental.”
The Rebels will host the visiting Waratahs on Friday night in their first home game of the season – the defending-champion Waratahs shocked by the Western Force in a 25-13 round one loss.
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