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England captain Lewis Ludlow banned for striking with knee
By PA
England flanker Lewis Ludlow has been suspended for four matches for striking with the knee in Saturday’s 70-14 victory over Canada.
Ludlow, who was captaining the team for a second successive match, struck the head of Canada front row Jake Ilnicki 30 minutes into the game at Twickenham.
The 26-year-old was sent to the sin-bin but the citing officer deemed the offence worthy of a red card, thereby triggering Thursday evening’s virtual hearing.
According to a World Rugby statement, Gloucester player Ludlow admitted he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card.
The offence was deemed a reckless act but not intentional by an independent disciplinary committee.
It carried a starting point of a six-match suspension, which was subsequently reduced by two games due to the player’s admission of foul play.
Ludlow’s ban will result in him missing two club matches against Ealing, in addition to fixtures against Hartpury and Northampton, which are scheduled to take place in August and September.
“Lewis Ludlow has been suspended by an independent disciplinary committee for four matches for an act of foul play during England’s match against Canada last weekend,” read World Rugby’s statement.
Ludlow intends to apply to participate in World Rugby’s head contact process coaching intervention programme.
Successful completion of that course would result in the ban being reduced to three matches, meaning Ludlow would be available for Gloucester’s game against Northampton on September 18.
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Latest Comments
That group needed an experienced head in it, which is why we went after Wayne Smith, who was 90% ready to accept an offer. When he finally turned it down we didn’t pursue anyone else of the same calibre.
When 2015 swung around, the same chickens came home to roost, unfortunately.
Go to commentsThe attacking role for midfield backs is to create space for the wingers/full back to score and to provide support for them. It also helps if the halves move the ball with speed and accuracy at the outset to start the process off. On defence just don’t miss tackles. In recent seasons defence has usually been sound but attacking plays not so much. There are a number of combinations that could be effective but is of course the selectors/ coaches who decide that. Not easy.
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