Case Number:

ON/507/20

Andre Savelio #23, Hull FC

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Castleford v Hull FC

Match Date:

2020-10-01

Incident:

Leads with knees in the 74th minute (Shenton)

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Rule – 15.1( c )
Detail – Drops knees first
Grade – B

Fine:

£500

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty, but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 5th October 2020, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(c) during the above Match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approximately the 74th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you dropped your knee on an opponent. 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 (Use of knees). The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 1 – 2 match suspension.

In response to the Lloyd comparison clip the CM believes the charge is different due to the way the player approaches the tackle, the forward motion of the ball carrier and the way in which he falls to ground in an unorthodox way. Whilst contact between the players and knee may have occurred the MRP believed the player went to ground before contact was made.

The CM then showed a comparison clip (Moors – Castleford v Wakefield) which was a Grade B charge. The CM believed that this showed contact between the players knee and opponents head and that it was at a similar point of a closely fought game.

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

Player in attendance alongside Head Coach Andy Last and CEO James Clark. Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

JC tells the panel that the incident was not deliberate and was certainly not intentional. They believe that the opponent was not on the ground at the time of contact and that there was certainly no knee drop from the player.

The club feel that the opponent was moving towards the player and the collision was the only possible outcome. The player realises that they’ll be impact but it is too late to avoid it, whilst the opponent stumbles and is running at an angle towards the player.

This incident is careless and certainly not reckless. The player had no intention to cause any injury and the player reacted as best he could in order to avoid injury for either party.

The club then showed a comparison clip (Lloyd – Swinton v Widnes) which was charged at Grade A. The club feel that this incident is in fact worse than the charge they are contesting and submit that a Grade A for this incident would be more suitable.

AS addresses the tribunal explaining that the collision happened very quickly. He turned his knee away in order to minimise the impact and that he had a split-second decision to make before contact. He was unable to get underneath his opponent and the incident happened with the game in the balance.

AL talked the panel through the footage. He explained the player was moving from marker and believes that there was still an opportunity to try and prevent the try. He though the player was showing urgency and that it was more a matter of the opponents’ head hitting the players knee, rather than the other way round. The collision was unfortunate.

In response to the Moors comparison clip JC felt that the player had changed his running stride and this caused the impact between his knee and the head of the opponent. He believed the opponent was also on the ground at the time and that the incident involved aggression.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions. They are of the opinion that this charge should be graded at Grade A. They feel that the player was indeed careless and not reckless in his actions and that there was little else he could have done to avoid the collision such was the speed involved. They do not think that he purposely dropped his knee onto the opponent and that he was committed to trying to prevent the try.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Player charged under RFL Rule 15.1(c) – Drops knees first on opponent on the ground
• Incident occurred in the 74th minute of the match
• Mr Savelio approaches contact recklessly
• Mr Savelio does not make adaptations to approach or in reckless approach allow time to adapt
• It is reasonable for a player to assume the opponent shall dive to the ground in the act of scoring a try. The opponent collects the ball low and remains low
• Direct contact from left knee of Mr Savelio direct to the head of opponent
• Opponent receives treatment on field and completes the rest of the Match
• Graded B due to:
- Approach was reckless
- No attempt to withdraw or adapt approach
- Aware of obvious risk that acting in a manner will bring about but none the less acts where a reasonable person would not do so
- Direct contact with the head of opponent

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

The player has a good disciplinary with no other charges of this nature. No injury was caused to the opponent and he has shown remorse for his actions and apologised.

Aggravating Factors:

08/04/19 – Tripping (Grade B – 1 match)
10/08/20 – Raising knee in tackle (Caution)
03/07/17 – Raising knee in tackle (Caution)
26/06/17 – Raising knee in tackle (Caution)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal are in agreement that this charge should be downgraded to a Grade A offence and as such the challenge is successful.

Whilst they are aware that there was a collision between the players knee and the opponents head the believe this was due to carelessness rather than anything reckless.

Taken into account the players record they therefore feel no matches should be applied, however, the player is still guilty of an offence and as such will be fined £500.

Suspension:

0 matches