MUNSTER rugby’s Keith Earls has been banned for two weeks following his sending off in last weekend’s clash with Glasgow. The ban means that Earls will miss this weekend’s clash with Ulster at Ravenhill, while it also rules him out of the first test of the November series against the All Blacks in Chicago.
The full statement from Champions Cup rugby is below.
The Munster Rugby player, Keith Earls, has been suspended for two weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London today (Wednesday, 26 October 2016) arising from the European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 2 match between Munster Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.
Earls was sent off by referee, Jérôme Garcès (France), for a dangerous tackle on the Glasgow Warriors hooker, Fraser Brown, in the 19th minute of the match at Thomond Park in contravention of Law 10.4 (j).
Law 10.4 (j) Dangerous tackling
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 10.4 (j), Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground while the player’s feet are off the ground, carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 4 weeks; Mid-Range: 8 weeks; Top End: 12 to 52 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Mike Hamlin (England), Chairman, Roddy Dunlop QC (Scotland) and Andrea Caranci (Italy) heard evidence and submissions from Earls, who pleaded guilty to the offence, from Munster Rugby Team Manager, Niall O’Donovan, from Munster Rugby’s legal representative, Derek Hegarty, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
In upholding the red card decision, the Committee found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.
As there were no aggravating factors, the Committee then reduced the sanction by a maximum of two weeks due to Earls’ timely guilty plea, expression of remorse and clean disciplinary record before imposing a suspension of two weeks.
Earls will be free to play on Monday, 7 November. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
