Wallabies winger Reece Hodge has been scrubbed out of pool play at the Rugby World Cup after being found guilty of a dangerous tackle at a judicial hearing in Tokyo.
Versatile winger Hodge was handed a three-game suspension by a three-man independent judiciary, who deemed his high tackle on forward Peceli Yato during Saturday’s win over Fiji in Sapporo met the red card threshold.
The ban means Hodge will miss Sunday’s second pool match against Wales and also games against Uruguay and Georgia. He’ will become available if the Wallabies qualify for the quarter-finals.
An obviously disappointed Hodge didn’t speak to waiting journalists, departing through a separate exit from the hearing, which was held at an inner-city law firm.
The result will be greeted grimly by a Wallabies team who expected they could successfully challenge the red card grading for the offence.
Management are yet to decide if they will appeal the ban within the 48-hour window allowed.
Yato was concussed and forced out of the game by the 26th minute tackle, which probably prevented a try.
Footage of the incident suggested Hodge had made contact with Yato’s head and he hadn’t wrapped his arms around the hulking flanker.
Judicial committee chairman Nigel Hampton, Scotland’s Frank Hadden and Argentina’s Jose Luis Rolandi determined the incident was an act of foul play that was reckless rather than deliberate.
In a statement, the committee said contact with Yato’s head meant there was a high degree of danger involved and that a six-week ban was warranted.
That sanction was halved because of Hodge’s exemplary disciplinary record and his conduct at the hearing.
World Rugby recently updated their disciplinary laws to read: “Any act of foul play which results in contact with the head and/or neck shall result in at least a mid-range sanction (six weeks).”
Hodge’s lawyers argued Hodge was bracing for a collision and that his initial contact was with Yato’s arm. They said the winger had moved his head late in a bid to avoid contact with Yato’s head.
Coach Michael Cheika was irate this week that the tackle was cited in the first place as it had been cleared by matchday officials, even after being reviewed by the television match official.
He said he was led to believe a citing officer would only come over the top of matchday officials if an offence was deemed “clear and obvious”, which he said the Hodge tackle wasn’t.
The outcome should mean a starting promotion for winger Dane Haylett-Petty off the bench for Sunday’s clash with the Welsh.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
No not this panel in particular however there was a former international coach and former international referee. My point being it's not just lawyers on these panels. Other than the chair persons there are 9 judicial panel members consisting of former international coaches,referees, and players ( 5 players).
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Clarke: I don't recall a player being on this panel. Never seen anything more obviously a non-event in my life and proves that there is no place for rugby in the world of contact sport. Rugby will be finished in 20 years and it will be played on your phone with your mates.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Is Hodge super thick or Cheika, how do you admit to something that didnt happen. Its clear from my watching on the replay it was the Fijian arms that hit his shoulder and then the impact jolted then back with the ball onto the Fijians head. Not a shoulder charge or head high. What do you expect from a coach who have Folau a massive pay rise when he was an extremely high risk proposition.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yeah well we don't know that for sure however my point was Fiji do not cite. They refer the matter to the Citing Commissioner. That person would then have to satisfy himself that the incident referred meets the red card threshold before it goes any further.
Chris
Guest
Without the dobber Mckees intervention.Hodge would have been ok. dazell is correct.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Same question as above. "Had Barrett’s occurred on the weekend, he would have been sanctioned further." --- how exactly. He would have got 10 weeks?
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
"a ban in excess of that given to Kiwi Barrett" .....it was the same ...3 weeks. The Kiwi Captain did not grab anyone by the throat. Stop making up stuff.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yeah the Kiwi guy told the Scotsman and Argentinian to sit there and shut up and don't speak until you are spoken to and if I need your input I will tell you what it should be. :laughing:
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
That's not a serious question is it? :silly:
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Clever huh....but seriously, the teams can do what they want as far as I know.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
haha I am not sure. Obviously the two Samoans. I read an article quotnig Hansen, who mentioned the referee knocks on the coaches door and asks if they have any citings. Not sure if they can come from the public or not.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
sorry? what guidelines have changed?
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
But White did already have hands on him.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yeah White already had a grasp of Yato.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
cold flannel on forehead might help :laughing:
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
The citing commissioner cited Hodge. Apparently the Fiji management referred the incident to the commissioner for consideration.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
You really should cite these incidents if you are going to make such a claim. You should have about 10 at least. These will include two Samoan players that have been cited.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
wowww
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Only the match Citing Commissioner can cite a player. Team referrals don't go further unless the Commissioner decides they should.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Dave: your link would get Read sent to prison for assault.