Wallabies back-rower Rob Valetini will be free for the Brumbies’ first Super Rugby Pacific match next year, after being hit with a two-match ban for his high hit in the Wallabies’ loss to Wales.
Valetini, who was red-carded after a high shot on Welsh lock Adam Beard in the first half of Australia’s heartbreaking loss, was originally handed a six-match suspension, but four of those weeks will be knocked off due to his good prior record and accepting the guilty verdict, and provided he complete the newly introduced ‘head contact process coaching intervention’ course.
It was implemented by World Rugby in July of this year in an attempt to train players red-carded for high contact on correct tackling technique.
While Valetini will still miss two games, they will be trial matches against the Waratahs and a Brumbies development side in pre-season, freeing him up for Round 1 against new Super Rugby team Moana Pasifika.
The Wallaby’s escape comes despite one member of the committee arguing for the high hit on Beard to be deemed high range and reckless, which would have resulted in a ban of 10 or more weeks.
“The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card,” they said in a statement.
Australia’s Rob Valetini (left) tackles Wales’ Adam Beard, resulting a red card during the Autumn International match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Saturday November 20, 2021. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
“The committee deemed that the offending was reckless, and that he ran at speed in an upright position in an attempt to tackle Adam Beard, exhibiting poor tackle technique resulting in his head striking the right hand side of Adam Beard’s head (in breach of World Rugby’s Head Contract Process and Law 9.13) who was removed from the field of play.
“He failed his HIA & received 20 stitches in the area of his eyebrow.
“The Committee determined by a majority that after an assessment of the seriousness of the offending the actions merited a minimum mid-range entry point of 6 weeks.
“The Committee determined that all mitigating factors were present and the Player was entitled to a 50% reduction from the entry point, and accepting that there were no aggravating factors the committee reduced the six-week entry point by three weeks, resulting in a sanction of three weeks.
“The Player may apply to take part in the Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of his sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.”
Valetini is not expected to appeal the suspension.
Andrew
Roar Rookie
So are non white players automatically above criticism?
Gary Russell-Sharam
Roar Rookie
LED I agree with your assertion of the incident. Your opinion aligns with my thinking. The head shot by Valentini was not intentional and should have merited a yellow card for penalty. If he had intentionally instigated foul play by all means send him off. The game of rugby is hard to watch these days with so many stoppages. I've played rugby for over 50 years and I do not enjoy the current way that the laws of rugby are being applied. I am cognisant of the care that head contact is looked out for, but the insignificant improvement since the changing of the law is a item that should be looked at. We already had a law that players should not tackle above the shoulder and that has been in for a long time. Rugby is way ahead of league in this way and should be commended for this, but in this instance is was not malicious and should have been dealt with by way of a yellow card and a penalty to the opposition. Referees need to ref with some common sense.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Not sure about the trial games using up the suspension is a good thing for the game but this is nothing new and teams of all nations have been doing this for a long time now. I do think the downgrade for not having a record, accepting guilt and doing this new clinic thing is reasonable for a first time offender but I feel if he does it again he will be out for some time.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
All that WR arse kissing by RA has paid dividends.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
It's still half a game Bobby. Given his heavy workload this year the Brumbies might not have even played him at all I guess.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Red cards aren't for the worst of the worst, they're for people who create dangerous situations for their opponents. Valetini smashed the bejesus out of Beard, who got a concussion and 20 stitches from it. It was reckless and dangerous even if it wasn't deliberate. Dinosaurs like you are welcome to turn the tv off.
biltong
Guest
:laughing: I think the correct website wigeye is looking for is "Hi Y'all"
Rhys
Roar Rookie
Think you logged into the wrong website :silly:
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Ha. But in this case, he'll miss BOTH trials. God I love Rugby !
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Don't exaggerate Bobby. Typically in the Waratahs trials a Wallaby would probably miss the first one and play half the second one.
wigeye
Guest
Yes a bit like kissing your sister and not get in trouble for it Is that acceptable on here!!
wigeye
Guest
If I said what he said my post would not of been put up like my other 5 this week. But I don't share is view of course
rusty
Roar Rookie
You'd have to ask McKellar. He seems to be chairman of selectors.
rusty
Roar Rookie
Loss of the ice cream OK but the Xbox is a bit too far.
rusty
Roar Rookie
Yes he agreed to the "head contact process coaching intervention" after the WR board agreed to an IQ assessment intervention on behalf of rugby spectators. In there submission they promised not to elect anyone with an IQ under 70.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yep its like suspending a kid during the school holidays.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
With all the lockdowns you cant even ground him Lol. Its a pretty dumb punishment and all it does is give the next players lawyer a precedent for the next suspension.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Swinton is a walking red
PeterK
Roar Guru
obviously because Valetini is not a waratahs player
FatOldHalfback
Roar Rookie
There have been plenty of calls on Roar for Swinton never to play for the Ws again because he is too much of a RC risk ... where are the calls for Valetini never to play for the Ws again because he is a RC risk?