Budd suspended for two weeks

Editor

Dean Budd, the Treviso lock, has been handed a two-week suspension for striking with the arm in a PRO12 match.

Budd appeared before an independent PRO12 Disciplinary Committee, having been shown a red card, following two yellow cards, in the PRO12 match between Ospreys and Benetton Treviso at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on Friday.

The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Mark McParland, along with George Spotswood and Hugh Logan (all from Ireland), reviewed all of the evidence and listened to representations made by, and on behalf of, Budd.

Budd acknowledged that he had committed the relevant acts of foul play, and the Disciplinary Committee determined that the two yellow cards, and the resulting red card, had been appropriately issued to the player.

In considering the appropriate sanction the Disciplinary Committee referred to the memorandum distributed by World Rugby in 2015 in respect of this type of case.

The Disciplinary Committee noted that the second yellow card had been shown to Budd for striking with the arm. Taking that and all other relevant factors into account the Disciplinary Committee determined that Budd's actions warranted a playing suspension of two weeks. 

Accordingly, and taking into account weeks in which he is not expected to play, he is suspended from playing rugby up to and including Sunday, May 8.