Case Number:

ON/356/20

Morgan Smithies #16, Wigan

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Wigan v Castleford

Match Date:

2020-08-29

Incident:

Dangerous Contact in the 43rd minute (Clare)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule – 15.1(i)
Detail - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle
Grade – D

Fine:

£500

Sanctions:

3-5

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 31st August, the player is charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 43rd minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion during making a tackle the player made dangerous contact on an opponent (Clare) and applied pressure to the neck and/or spinal column. The player was temporarily dismissed following the incident. The Panel believed that the actions were unnecessary and caused your opponent injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence (Dangerous Contact - Defending player, in or after effecting a tackle, uses any part of their body forcefully to bend or apply unnecessary pressure to the head and/or spinal column of the tackled player so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle). In accordance with the On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the normal suspension range for such offence is 3 - 5 matches.

In the incident the player makes initial front on contact with opponent and adapts an under hook/over hook grip on the opponent and is tight in to contact. The opponents head is trapped in a position on the chest of the player and his own chin is trapped against his own chest also.
The player fails to allow space for the opponent’s head to come through the contact and maintains tight grip throughout tackle. The player is not trapped in contact by other tacklers and then brings his own bodyweight downwards on to the opponent.

The Footage clearly shows excessive and unnecessary pressure to the neck of opponent where the opponents head flicks out at force as soon as the bodyweight of player is removed.
The opponent is treated on field for 8 minutes and sent to hospital for X-rays. The player fails in his duty of care to an opponent when using this highly reckless technique. The charge is one of a Grade D offence due to the player should have adapted his technique in which to bring opponent to ground and complete the tackle safely.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Matt Peet, Assistant Coach at Wigan Warriors states that the player is guilty of this charge and do not challenge the grading. It is accepted the incident is bad and could have had resulted in a worse injury for the opponent. The Club places a major focus on the tackle area, and they will step up their efforts to make sure this does not occur again. Mr Peet states they have highlighted the opponent who ducks and spins to try and get a quick play the ball. The Club believe that it is the opponent who initially has got his head into that position as there was separation to begin with, however accept that it was the player’s responsibility once this happened to create the space for the opponent to come out of the tackle safely which he failed to do. R Peet says the player is 9 and has only been playing First Team rugby for a year. The player makes a number of tackles in a match and executes his technique spot on. The Club will work with the player to make sure he gets his technique right all the time. The player himself states there was never any malice and was concerned for his opponent after the tackle. The players states he has got in wrong in this incident and is thankful his opponent did not suffer a potentially worse injury.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Mr Peet feels that the grading is correct however compared with previous incidents, that this should fall in the lower end of the grade.

Aggravating Factors:

Player has one incident on his record.
2 match suspension for a headbutt.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal in determining the sanction believe this is a Grade D offence and should ordinarily attract the highest level within the Grade. The opponent was in a very vulnerable position and can clearly be shown to have his head pressed against his own body by the weight of the player. The Tribunal thank the Club for their submissions and the way they have accepted the charge. There is clearly a great deal of remorse and the player does not have any incidents of a similar nature on his record albeit he is only 19 years of age. Taking all factors into account, the Tribunal believe that a 4 match suspension and a £500 fine is appropriate in this instance.

Suspension:

4 matches