Craig Gilroy hit with ban for 'reckless' horror tackle on Tom Rogers

Ulster's Craig Gilroy has been hit with a ban for his horror tackle on Scarlets' winger Tom Rogers in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The controversial tackle that only saw the winger yellow-carded on the night by Referee Jaco Peyper, a decision that left many irate on the night. The neck of Rogers snapped back violently due to the impact of Gilroy’s shoulder to the head on the visiting Welsh player and he didn't return after halftime.

Ulster won the match 27-15, with Gilroy going on to score their bonus-point earning fourth try.

“That is the tackle that I think everyone is trying to get away from,” said former Wales centre Tom Shanklin on Premier Sports. “Gilroy is not even looking where he is going. He has led with the shoulder, the arm is down. He is very lucky to get a yellow card as that is quite a bad tackle. It definitely should have been a red card.”

A URC statement reads: "Gilroy had been cited for an incident that occurred in the 22nd minute of the United Rugby Championship Round 11 fixture at Kingspan Stadium against Scarlets on Friday, January 28.

"The Citing Commissioner in charge had made a complaint about an act of foul play by Gilroy (No 14) against opponent Thomas Rogers (No 14).

"The Player received a yellow card and had been cited under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

"A Disciplinary Panel considered all of the evidence available and concluded that Gilroy’s actions were reckless and thus warranted a Red Card. The Panel considered that the Player’s previous record and behaviour during the process entitled him to mitigation. However, as the player did not accept that the act of foul play warranted a Red Card, the Panel determined that he was not entitled to full (50%) mitigation.

"As a result, the Player has been banned for a period of four games. He is free to play from midnight on Sunday, March 13th, 2022."