Alex Lozowski handed four-week ban

Editor

England and Saracens centre Alex Lozowski has been handed a four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Glasgow Warriors‘ Ruaridh Jackson on October 14.

Lozowski has been suspended for four weeks following a new independent Disciplinary Hearing in London yesterday evening (Wednesday, 31 October) arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 1 match.

Lozowski was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Tim Lowry (Ireland), for a dangerous tackle on the Glasgow Warriors full-back, Jackson, in the 33rd minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13.

Law 9.13 Dangerous tackling
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.

The complaint was not upheld at an initial hearing, however, that decision was subsequently deemed to have been in error following an appeal by EPCR.

A newly-constituted independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Jean-Noel Couraud (France) and Leon Lloyd (England), heard evidence and submissions from Lozowski, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, from Saracens’ legal representative, Sam Jones, and from the Saracens Director of Rugby, Mark McCall.

The Committee also heard evidence by phone from Jackson, as well as submissions from EPCR’s legal representative, Max Duthie, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

The Committee upheld the citing complaint in that the act of foul play had warranted a red card and found that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.

There were no aggravating factors and due to the player’s clear disciplinary record and some expression of remorse, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.

The Committee was not satisfied that Lozowski would not have been considered for selection for Saracens’ Premiership Cup match against Leicester Tigers on 27 October, and as he had already served a two-week suspension for an unrelated offence, it was decided to back date the suspension to the day of the citing.

Lozowski is therefore free to play on Monday, 12 November.