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Australia have lost Reece Hodge to a 3 week ban for foul play. The winger was let off lightly during Australia’s opening match of RWC 2019 against Fiji. Referee Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) did not red card the player as he should have based on the guidelines. Hodge went on to score a try in the match.
The tackle by Hodge on Peceli Yato constituted foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle). It occurred in the 25th minute, meaning Australia should have been down to 14-men for 55 minutes of the match.
The committee, chaired by Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand), former Scotland international coach Frank Hadden, and former Argentine referee José Luis Rolandi viewed all the available broadcast angles of the incident.
In considering all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from Hodge and his legal representative, the committee deemed that the incident was an act of foul play and warranted a red card in line with the high tackle sanction framework.
The committee determined:
- There was an act of foul play (which was reckless, rather than deliberate)
- The act of foul play was a high tackle
- There was contact with the head
- There was a high degree of danger
Given the above outcomes, the committee determined that the act of foul play warranted a red card. The committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory mid-range entry point, which was introduced in 2017 to mitigate the risk of head injuries, which according to World Rugby’s sanctions table, carries a minimum six-match suspension.
Having acknowledged Hodge’s exemplary disciplinary record, good character and conduct at the hearing, the committee reduced the six-match entry point by three matches, resulting in a sanction of three matches.
Hodge will miss Australia’s three remaining pool matches. They are to be against Wales on September 29 in Tokyo; against Uruguay on October 05 in Oita; and against Georgia on October 11 in Shizuoka.
