Following the third week of fixtures in the Rugby Europe Championship 2021, it has been announced that two players have faced a disciplinary hearing.
More information can be found, along with previous sanctions, on the designated Disciplinary Decisions page
Disciplinary Update – Fred Quercy Spain No 8
The Spain No 8, Fred Quercy, appeared before an independent Disciplinary Panel via a video conference call on Wednesday 24 March 2021. The Disciplinary Panel comprised of Matthew O’Grady (Chair, England), Sarah Smith (Scotland) and Dany Roelands (Belgium).
Mr Quercy was sent off in the Rugby Europe Championship match between Romania and Spain on 20 March 2021 at the Ghencea Stadium in Bucharest. The red card had been issued in the 55th minute of the match for an infringement of Law 9.12 (physical abuse, striking with the knee).
Mr Quercy accepted he committed an act of foul play that justified a red card.
The Disciplinary Panel viewed match footage and heard evidence from Mr Quercy and from the Spanish Rugby Union.
The Disciplinary Panel found Mr Quercy deliberately struck his opponent in the head with his knee. The Romanian player suffered no injury as a result of this foul play, was not subject to a Head Injury Assessment and was able to continue playing after this foul play. In the circumstances the Disciplinary Panel concluded the appropriate Entry Point was Mid-Range (8 weeks).
The Disciplinary Panel found no off-field aggravating features to justify the addition of further weeks of suspension.
The Disciplinary Panel concluded 2 weeks should be deducted from the Entry Point for the off-field mitigating features.
The final suspension imposed was one of six weeks. The suspension concludes on Sunday 9 May 2021.
Disciplinary Update – Vlad Neculau Romania No 7
The Romania No 7, Vlad Neculau, appeared before an independent Disciplinary Panel via a video conference call on Wednesday 24 March 2021. The Disciplinary Panel comprised of Matthew O’Grady (Chair, England), Sarah Smith (Scotland) and Dany Roelands (Belgium).
Mr Neculau was cited following the Rugby Europe Championship match between Romania and Spain on 20 March 2021 at the Ghencea Stadium in Bucharest. The citing was been issued for alleged foul play in 39th minute of the match for an infringement of Law 9.12 (physical abuse, striking with shoulder).
The Disciplinary Panel proposed, and Mr Neculau and his representative agreed, that the correct charge on the description within the citing report was an offence contrary to Law 9.20.a (dangerous play, charging in a ruck).
Mr Neculau accepted he committed an act of foul play that justified a red card.
The Disciplinary Panel viewed match footage and heard evidence from Mr Neculau and from the Romanian Rugby Union.
The Disciplinary Panel found Mr Neculau dangerously charged into the ruck and recklessly made contact with the neck of his opponent using his shoulder. The Spanish player suffered no injury as a result of this foul play, was not subject to a Head Injury Assessment and was able to continue playing after this foul play. In the circumstances the Disciplinary Panel concluded the appropriate Entry Point was Mid-Range (6 weeks).
The Disciplinary Panel found no off-field aggravating features to justify the addition of further weeks of suspension.
The Disciplinary Panel concluded 2 weeks should be deducted from the Entry Point for the off-field mitigating features.
The final suspension imposed was one of four weeks. The suspension concludes on Sunday 24 April 2021.
