Three-week suspension for Reece Hodge

David Skippers

Australia's Reece Hodge (right) is tackled by Fiji's Frank Lomani (bottom) and Peni Ravai during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Sapporo Dome. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday September 21, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU Australia. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Strictly no commercial use or association. Still image use only. Use implies acceptance of RWC 2019 T&Cs (in particular Section 5 of RWC 2019 T&Cs) at: https://bit.ly/2knOId6

Wallabies wing Reece Hodge has been suspended for three weeks by the World Rugby judiciary for a dangerous tackle on Fiji flanker Peceli Yato.

The 25-year-old was cited for his hit on Yato in the 25th minute of their Rugby World Cup clash and faced a tribunal on Wednesday.

The World Rugby judicial hearing at a Tokyo legal office lasted for close to four hours.

It was deemed the entry point for the offence was six weeks, reduced to three weeks.

The committee, chaired by Nigel Hampton (New Zealand), former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland) and former referee José Luis Rolandi (Argentina), viewed all the available broadcast angles of the incident, which resulted in Yato requiring a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).

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. In following the 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. The suspension will end at midnight on October 11 after which he is free to resume playing.

The player has the right to appeal the decision within 48 hours of receiving the written decision.