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USA Eagles back row Riekert Hattingh has received a four-game suspension for a dangerous tackle on Ireland’s Ronan Kelleher during Saturday’s test match in Dublin. Hattingh received a red card from referee Mathieu Raynal after the incident part-way through the second half.
The Seattle Seawolves captain will therefore miss the final game of the Major League Rugby season. Thanks to World Rugby’s liberal interpretation of sanctioning, however, it’s likely that Hattingh will effectively miss only one meaningful game and will be free to play against Canada in September’s World Cup Qualifiers. Below is the judicial decision in its entirety:
USA flanker, Riekert Hattingh, 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 USA’s international match against Ireland on 10 July, 2021.
The independent Disciplinary Committee chaired by Samantha Hillas QC (England), joined by former internationals Leon Lloyd (England) and Bogdan Zebega (Romania), heard the case, considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the player and his representative, and from the match day referee.
The player denied that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card. Having reviewed all the evidence, the committee deemed as follows:
- That there had been direct contact from the player’s shoulder with the chin of the ball carrier;
- That this contact was made with force;
- The committee did not accept the submission that there was no contact with the ball carrier’s chin; and,
- That although the Ireland No.2 was off balance, and the player did bend at the knees, the player had time to adjust his body height and drop his hips and his failing to do so led to the incident;
Therefore, on the balance of probabilities, the committee did not find that the referee’s decision was wrong, and the red card was upheld.
On that basis, 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, the player’s apologies to both the player and the management team, and good conduct at the hearing. the committee reduced the six-match entry point by two matches, resulting in a sanction of four matches meaning the player will miss the following matches:
- Houston v Seattle – Major League Rugby – 15 July, 2021
- US National Sevens Tournament – Washington Athletic Club – 13-15 August, 2021
- Seattle Rugby Club v Bend – 21 August, 2021
- USA v Canada – Rugby World Cup Qualifier – 4 September, 2021
The player may apply to take part in the Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of his sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.
The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision.
