Blues lose Hoeata to six-week ban

Editor

Cardiff Blues lock Jarrad Hoeata has been suspended for six weeks for his high tackle on Rob Kearney last weekend.

The former All Black second row was sent off for the tackle on Kearney, as he caught the full-back round the neck.

The Blues led Leinster 13-5 at the time, but eventually went down 22-13 in the Welsh capital.

The disciplinary committee, chaired by Achille Reali (Italy), along with Rhian Williams (Wales) and Dr Barry O’Driscoll (Ireland), having viewed footage of the incident and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, found that the incident was at the mid-range of the World Rugby sanctions for this type of offence, carrying a 6 week sanction.

The Committee applied an additional two weeks to reflect World Rugby’s requirement for a measure of deterrence for this type of offence. In the absence of any other aggravating factors and in light of several mitigating factors, including the player’s acceptance of the red card and his conduct at the hearing, the disciplinary committee applied a 2 week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for 6 weeks.

Hoeata is free to resume playing from Monday, 23 February 2015 and has the right of appeal.