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Juan Cruz Mallia has been suspended for three matches by World Rugby. The Pumas back was red carded in the first class while playing for Argentina vs Wales. Referee Matthew Carley (England) red carded Mallía for foul play.
The incident was cited and the outcome is that Mallía accepted that his challenge on Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy was a reckless head-high challenge. The incident is contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle).
The player will not be able to play for Argentina this coming weekend against Wales. His three match suspension will also see him ruled-out of playing against South Africa in there Rugby Championship. Argentina are scheduled to face the Springboks in South Africa on August 14 and August 21. Mallía has applied for a coaching intervention which would decrease his suspension from the three test matches to the first two. Thus, Mallía may be able to play on August 21.
World Rugby released the following announcement:
Argentina full-back Juan Cruz Mallia appeared before an independent judicial committee via video link having received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) in Argentina’s international match against Wales on 10 July, 2021.
The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Roddy Dunlop QC (Scotland), joined by former international Becky Essex (England) and former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland).
The player admitted that he had committed an act of foul play and accepted that it was worthy of a red card. The committee acknowledged the player’s admission that the act of foul play was a reckless act resulting in contact with the head of an opponent.
The committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head. This resulted in a starting point of a six-match suspension. Having acknowledged mitigating factors including the player’s clean disciplinary record, his admission of the act of foul play, and his demonstration of remorse, the committee reduced the six-match entry point by the maximum of three matches, meaning the player will miss the following matches: Wales v Argentina (17 July, 2021), South Africa v Argentina (14 August, 2021) and Argentina v South Africa (21 August, 2021).
The player intends to apply to take part in World Rugby’s recently launched Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention Programme which is aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contribute to the foul play. The committee approved the application and the player and his coach will therefore submit a coaching intervention for consideration by World Rugby’s expert Review Panel. Following confirmation by the panel of successful completion, the final match of the player’s sanction will be substituted by the Coaching Intervention and the player would therefore be free to play in Argentina’s second test against South Africa on 21 August, 2021
Via: World Rugby
