Stade Francais duo handed hefty bans following ‘WWE brutality’ against Munster
Baptiste Pesenti of Stade Francais turns Craig Casey of Munster upside down and Pierre-Henri Azagoh clotheslines Peter O'Mahony.
Stade Francais duo Pierre-Henri Azagoh and Baptiste Pesenti have copped hefty bans following their red cards against Munster in their Investec Champions Cup opener.
The second-row pairing were brandished with a red card just five minutes apart, with Azagoh catching Peter O’Mahony in the face in a tackle in the 48th minute and Pesenti channelling WWE brutality worthy of the Undertaker with a horrific challenge on Craig Casey in the 53rd.
Stade Francais duo handed bans following Munster red cards
Azagoh, who was sent off first, has been handed a three-week suspension following his tackle on Irish international O’Mahony after a breakaway down the wing.
“The independent Disciplinary Committee, Ben Rutherford (Ireland, Chair), Leon Lloyd (England) and Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) heard the case via video conference on Tuesday 10 December 2024,” an EPCR statement read.
“The player was in attendance and was represented by Thomas Lombard (Stade Francais Director-General) and Paul Gustard (Stade Francais Club Coach). ”
“Azagoh accepted that he had committed an offence that warranted a red card and the Disciplinary Committee selected 6 weeks as the appropriate entry point. No aggravating factors were present, and on the basis of the mitigation submitted on the player’s behalf, a three-week discount was applied to the entry point of 6 weeks. The player was therefore suspended for three weeks. ”
His ban could be reduced to two weeks if he attends tackle school.
Partner Pesenti, seemingly inspired by Azagoh, has also been handed a two-week suspension for the tombstone piledriver on scrum-half Casey.
— Buff Egan (@buff_egan) December 7, 2024
“The Independent Disciplinary committee, Roddy MacLeod (Scotland, Chair), Ken Owens (Wales) and Gordon Black (Ireland) heard the case via video conference on Tuesday 10 December 2024,” the same statement said. “The player was in attendance and was represented by Thomas Lombard (Stade Francais Director-General) and Laurent Labit (Stade Francais Head Coach).
“The committee determined that Pesenti had tackled Casey in a dangerous and reckless manner that warranted a red card.”
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“It was decided that the offending was at the low-end of World Rugby’s sanctions and two weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. The Disciplinary Committee did not consider that any aggravating factors were present, but did not feel that any discount from the entry point sanction of 2 weeks could be applied due to the player’s prior disciplinary record. The player was therefore suspended for two weeks.”
Both players, and EPCR, also have the right to appeal.
When will they be back?
Per the statement issued by EPCR, Azagoh will be eligible to play from Monday 30th December, however, if he attends tackle school that will change to Monday 23rd December.
Pesenti is also eligible to play from Monday 23rd December, but he has no way of reducing his ban.
Both players will therefore miss their side’s upcoming Champions Cup clash with Saracens, as well as their Top 14 clash with Perpignan.
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