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RFU statement: Maro Itoje cited for yellow-carded tackle
By Liam Heagney
England talisman Maro Itoje has been cited for his yellow-carded tackle last Friday when playing for Saracens at Bath. The second row collided with Alfie Barbeary approaching the 30-minute mark with his team 5-0 ahead in a match they were to win 15-12 at The Rec.
A Tuesday morning RFU statement read: “Maro Itoje (Saracens) will appear before an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday, April 30, chaired by Philip Evans KC sitting with Becky Essex and Martyn Wood.
“Itoje was cited for dangerous tackling, contrary to World Rugby law 9.13, during a game against Bath Rugby on April 26. The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the first half.”
The 29-year-old Itoje has never been red-carded in his long career with Saracens, England, and the British and Irish Lions.
Referee Luke Pearce quickly decided that last Friday night’s tackle was only a yellow card offence. Speaking to his TMO, he was heard on live TV saying: “It is head-on-head contact. It is foul play because 4 is upright.
“It’s not a flush… It’s off his shoulder and then a bit of contact with his head so it’s high danger, mitigation, yellow… it’s not flush, that’s why it’s yellow.”
Second-place Saracens have two regular season fixtures remaining in the Gallagher Premiership, away to fourth-place Bristol on May 11 and at home to the sixth-place Sale on May 18.
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500k registered players in SA are scoolgoers and 90% of them don't go on to senior club rugby. SA is fed by having hundreds upon hundreds of schools that play rugby - school rugby is an institution of note in SA - but as I say for the vast majority when they leave school that's it.
Go to commentsDon't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
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