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Six-week ban puts Paul Gabrillagues' World Cup with France in jeopardy
By Online Editors
France’s best laid World Cup plans have encountered another roadblock as second row Paul Gabrillagues has been suspended until midnight on October 6.
His six-week ban means he will miss the remainder of France’s warm-up match programme along with their pool games versus Argentina, USA and Tonga at the finals in Japan. He will only become available to play again for their final match versus England on Yokahama on October 12.
Gabrillagues’ unavailability stems from his appearance on Tuesday before an independent World Rugby disciplinary committee after he was cited for alleged foul play in the Test match against Scotland in Nice last Saturday.
The disciplinary committee - chaired by Simon Thomas (Wales) alongside Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Valeriu Toma (Romania, via Skype) - viewed footage with various angles of the incident in which Gabrillagues, in the 16th minute of the match, allegedly made contact with the head of an opponent contrary to Law 9.20 – "a player must not charge into a ruck or maul".
The disciplinary committee also considered the written evidence and listened to submissions by and on behalf of the player, in which Gabrillagues accepted that the alleged act did amount to foul play worthy of a red card.
Having considered the evidence and the submissions, the disciplinary committee deemed that the foul play was intentional, the offence took place at a considerable pace and with considerable force to the opposition’s head such that the player sustained an injury.
The committee determined that the act merited a top-end entry point which, according to World Rugby’s sanctions table within Regulation 17, carries a minimum 10-week suspension.
Having noted Gabrillagues’ early acknowledgement of guilt, his apology and expression of remorse to his opponent and his good conduct at the hearing, the disciplinary committee reduced the 10-week entry point by 40 per cent, resulting in a sanction of six weeks.
Taking into account Gabrillagues’ playing schedule, the suspension will end at midnight on Sunday, October 6. The player has the right to appeal the decision within 48 hours of receiving the written decision.
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I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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