1
Api Ratuniyarawa cops ban despite claiming he hadn't committed foul play
By Online Editors
Northampton have lost the services of Api Ratuniyarawa for their next four games following a red card in the 49th minute of the Saints’ Gallagher Premiership home defeat to London Irish last Friday night.
The Fijian appeared before an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday night and a citing for dangerous play at a ruck was upheld by the independent panel comprising Charles Cuthbert (chair) with Mitch Read and Leon Loyd. He is free to play again on March 10.
Cuthbert said: “The player did not accept that he had committed an act of foul play by dangerously charging into the ruck. He argued that he had bound on to the London Irish player. This was not accepted by the panel after reviewing the footage.
“The panel found it was a reckless action. While the panel were satisfied that there was no intent to cause injury, his shoulder did make contact to the face of the London Irish player who confirmed he suffered no injury as a result.
“The mandatory mid-range entry point applies where there is contact with the head and the panel found no factors to merit a top-end entry point.
(Continue reading below...)
Kotaro Matsushima's confirmed switch from Japan to France could be a game-changer
"The player was allowed mitigation for his clear disciplinary record over a long professional career at a high level. He apologised both and off-field to the London Irish player involved and his own team and is engaged in community activities and coaching.
“He was allowed two weeks in mitigation and is therefore suspended for four weeks. The four-week sanction covers Northampton Saints next four meaningful fixtures.”
WATCH: The Rugby Pod sets the scene ahead of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations and reflects on yet more Saracens fallout
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Stuart Lancaster 'wants out' of Racing 92 and eyeing Euro giants job
3
Henry Arundell lined up for early England homecoming
4
Government provides bleak assessment on the state of the Premiership
5
Latest Comments
It is if he thinks he’s got hold of the ball and there is at least one other player between him and the ball carrier, which is why he has to reach around and over their heads. Not a deliberate action for me.
Go to commentsI understand, but England 30 years ago were a set piece focused kick heavy team not big on using backs.
Same as now.
South African sides from any period will have a big bunch of forwards smashing it up and a first five booting everything in their own half.
NZ until recently rarely if ever scrummed for penalties; the scrum is to attack from, broken play, not structured is what we’re after.
Same as now.
These are ways of playing very ingrained into the culture.
If you were in an English club team and were off to Fiji for a game against a club team you’d never heard of and had no footage of, how would you prepare?
For a forward dominated grind or would you assume they will throw the ball about because they are Fijian?
A Fiji way. An English way.
An Australian way depends on who you’ve scraped together that hasn’t been picked off by AFL or NRL, and that changes from generation to generation a lot of the time.
Actually, maybe that is their style. In fact, yes they have a style.
Nevermind. Fuggit I’ve typed it all out now.
Go to comments