Case Number:

ON/1006/21

Fenton Rogers #35, Oldham

Competition:

Champion Schools

Match:

Sheffield Eagles vs Oldham

Match Date:

2021-08-15

Incident:

Late hit on the passer in the 47th minute

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1(i) - Dangerous Contact

A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes excessive flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Grade D

Fine:

£250

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 19th August 2021, 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 47th minute of the above Match. In the Panel’s opinion you made Dangerous Contact with your opponent. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and posed an unacceptable risk of injury to your opponent. In this instance, your actions did cause injury to the opponent with the player in question leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade D offence - Dangerous Contact - A defending player makes contact with an opponent after the ball has been released by an opponent in a vulnerable position which causes excessive flexion to the head, neck or spinal column on an attacking player, which poses an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 3-5 matches.

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

The player was not in attendance but did send in some written submissions via e-mail from the club.

They explained that the player was on debut for the club and was keen to do his best and was playing at this level for the first time. They believed the player was omitted to making the tackle and unable to pull out once the opponent had passed the ball.

The club feel the player uses his arms in an attempt to tackle and the fact the opponent turns after passing results in his neck getting a whiplash effect.

There was no intention to hurt the opponent and the player does not even look at the opponent following contact as he does not feel he had done anything wrong; he is focused on following the ball. Indeed, the Referee allowed play to continue.

The club feel the contact looks worse as the player is taller than his opponent and the opponent is bending forward as he passes the ball which means the player is leaning into the tackle and even taller.

The club acknowledge that the opponent was injured but feel it is an unfortunate set of circumstances which led to the opponent been stretchered off.

The club also inform that the player suffered concussion shortly after this incident and has already missed matches as a result it that.

The club therefore feel taking into account all the above that a suspension at the lower end of the scale would be appropriate.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Incident occurs in approximately the 47th minute of the match
• Opposing player is hit late with extreme force
• Flexion to head/neck
• Player is visibly distressed and is stretchered off
• Player has failed in his duty of care owed to his opponent
• Actions are unnecessary and against the spirit of the game
• Graded at D – the highest bracket for this offence
• Grade D due to:
- Extreme reckless contact and technique highly likely to lead to serious injury
- No duty of care shown towards opponent
- Injury suffered by opponent – stretchered off

Aggravating Factors:

03/06/21 – Dangerous Throw (Grade D – 4 matches)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal heard submissions from Gavin Wild on behalf of the RFL and we also received an e-mail from the club setting out the mitigating factors for the tribunal to take into account.

The panel reviewed the footage and considered that the opposing player was a hit late, after the ball had been released with significant force. Indeed, the force caused a serious whiplash injury to the player. The panel regarded this as a highly reckless tackle. The panel did not accept that the player was unable to pull out of the tackle in all of the circumstances and the opponent had to be stretchered off.

The panel were mindful of the fact that the player had been sanctioned on the 3rd June 2021 when he received a four match ban for an incident involving a Dangerous Throw.

Despite his guilty plea and his youth, the panel felt that this matter should be marked with a five match suspension. In addition, there would be a standard penalty of £250.

Suspension:

5 matches