Case Number:

ON/469/20

Luke Yates #17, Salford

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Hull FC v Salford

Match Date:

2020-09-24

Incident:

Dangerous Contact in the 26th minute (Houghton)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Defender uses any part of his body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player

Fine:

£500

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Not Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 28th September 2020, you are 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 26th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you made dangerous contact to the limb of an opponent (Houghton) whilst making a tackle. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary, had the potential to cause your opponent injury and constitute misconduct.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade B offence (Defender uses any part of his body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player). The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 1 – 2 match suspension.

In response to the comparison clip that was introduced the CM explained to the tribunal that the decision to grade it that way was not based on the technique, rather that the Match Review Panel could not be satisfied that any dangerous contact could be proved.

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

Player in attendance alongside Director of Rugby Ian Blease. Player pleads Not Guilty.

IB informed the tribunal that the player had an impeccable disciplinary record and that one of the reasons the club signed him was for his trait of not giving away on-field penalties.

He added the tackle was technically correct with initial contact around the opponent’s hips. The force of a teammate joining the tackle and pushing forward contributed to how the tackle was completed as did the momentum of the ball carrier.

IB stated that LY plays the game hard but is certainly not a dirty player.

LY addressed the hearing and talked through the incident. He said he had made good contact and that the forward momentum from his opponent contributed to him being caught in an awkward position. He has no previous disciplinary record and was just trying to complete the tackle for which there was no on-field penalty given.

He added that the opponent player on and that the momentum of the ball carrier resulted in his knees bouncing on the turf which could be seen in the footage. He concluded that there was no intent to cause any injury to his opponent.

IB added that the player had very limited time and would what have been a split second to adjust.

The club then asked for a comparison clip to be shown (Baitieri – Wakefield v Catalans). They were of the opinion that this was a worse example of the charge that had been brought to this hearing.

Decision:

Guilty

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Player chases contact and adopts grip around the waist of opponent
• Player’s knees are beneath his body and feet are behind him
• Player’s knees bounce off the ground
• Player generates own momentum to change movement from left to right.
• Player promotes the knees forward resulting in the players body making contact with and applying pressure to the opponent whilst maintaining grip.
• Player drops bodyweight through the back of the opponent’s right calf and ankle from players hip.
• Player applies pressure and twists the opponent’s ankle and knee joint
• Player has other options in which to safely complete the tackle.
• Grade B due to:
- Promotion of hip creates force and positioning of body to cause direct contact
- Contact is unnecessary
- Pressure and twisting motion applied through promoting bodyweight on opponent
- Reckless element due to promotion of knees which is created by the player

Reasons for Decision:

£500

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

We accept that there was momentum in the initial part of the tackle and that this caused the bouncing of the knees, but we don't accept that the subsequent movement of the knees was.

Based on that momentum Mr Yates accepted that he promoted or presented or put another way deliberately moved his legs in a forward direction. He said this was done in order to keep tight and to keep his core tight in order to affect the tackle.

For whatever reason, whilst maintaining a grip on the player around his waist there is an obvious risk that the movement of the knees would bring those knees into contact with the opponents legs. With that there is the obvious risk that unnecessary pressure could be brought to bear on a standing leg of the opponent and such a risk is not acceptable.

It has to be recognised that tackles must be made safely, which may on some occasions mean some tackles are lost.

We are satisfied with the grading at Grade B.

We consider the comparison clip (Baitieri) is irrelevant in this case. That decision to grade it that way was not based on technique, it was based on the fact that the charge couldn’t be proved because the Match Review Panel were not satisfied that there had been any actual dangerous contact. As I understand it that technique would have led to a similar charge to the one that we have dealt with and therefore it is not a matter which influences are decision.

Accordingly, because of your record, we think that the one match suspension is appropriate. There will also be a £500 fine and the £500 challenge bond will be lost.

Suspension:

1 match