Case Number:

ON/1253/21

Georgia Sutherland #21, Warrington

Competition:

Womens Super League

Match:

Huddersfield v Warrington

Match Date:

2021-09-26

Incident:

Biting in the 15th minute

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Other Contrary Behaviour – Biting

Grade F

Fine:

£25

Sanctions:

8+

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Not Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 4th October 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 15th minute of the above Match. The incident was placed on report. In the Panel’s opinion you have bitten your opponent. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and had the potential to cause your opponent serious injury.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade F offence – “Other Contrary Behaviour – Biting.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 8+ matches.

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

Player in attendance alongside Lee Westwood (Head Coach).

GS gave evidence that she had not bitten CF and had never bitten anyone. She said two or three players were involved in the tackle upon her. She got up from the tackle and then became aware of a complaint of biting. She didn’t understand why that allegation had been made. She said that she could not say her head was nowhere near CF’s arm but her recollection of the incident was, she said, hazy.

She had been tackled and wanted to get up and play on quickly. She said during the tackle something was around her neck but she couldn’t say her mouth came into contact with CF’s arm even accidentally.

GS submitted there was no definitive evidence of a bite. Although CF had reacted no-one else reacted in outrage including CF’s teammates. The video evidence she suggested showed the Referee watching the tackle and he did not see anything untoward.

Decision:

Guilty

Reasons for Decision:

We have reviewed the footage carefully and can see both CF and GS getting up out of the tackle in close proximity and as she did CF immediately moves her left arm out and calls to the Referee.
We have seen the photographs and read the Referees Report. We have listened carefully to the evidence.

The evidence of CF was, we find, clear and detailed to the effect that she was bitten. She described feeling a sharp pain like two sets of teeth clamping together. Her detailed evidence was in contrast to the evidence of GS who was unable to describe what had happened during and coming out of the tackle despite the fact that she had been accused there and then of biting.

CF made an immediate complaint to the referee that GS had bitten her. The photographs show an injury to her arm. We note there is no medical evidence and we do not purport to be experts so cannot say fully that injury is consistent with a human bite, but what they do show is the injury that was seen immediately after the incident by the Referee. Undoubtedly the injury was caused during that incident.

We have to be reasonably satisfied the charge is made out. Standard of proof greater than balance of probabilities but less than proof beyond reasonable doubt with due regard being given to the seriousness of the allegation. Obviously, this is a very serious allegation.

Given the totality of that evidence and the fact that we accept the detailed evidence of CF and note the contrast with the evidence of GS that her recollection of the incident was hazy, and we note that there is supporting evidence in the immediate complaint of biting and the fact of an injury sustained during the incident the Tribunal are reasonably satisfied to the appropriate standard that the GS bit CF in the manner described by CF.

We therefore find the charge proved.

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place in approx. 15th minute
• The matter was immediately reported by the opponent Chloe Fairbank and the matter was placed on report
• The footage shows that Miss Sutherland and Miss Fairbank are involved in a tackle
• There is a clear reaction from Miss Fairbank after the incident who is holding her am and would appear to be in distress
• There is an immediate report to the referee
• There is photographic evidence to show marks on Miss Fairbank’s arm
• Acts such as these bring the sport into disrepute
• Potential for injury
• Graded F due to;
- Unnecessary contact
- An injury has occurred to the opponent
- Brings sport into disrepute – poor image of the sport
- Players have a right when they enter the field that they are safe

Summary of Player's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

GS reiterated to the Tribunal that she did not bite her opponent. LW explained that the Women’s game has been very stop start over the course of the pandemic and that players had already missed a lot of rugby.

Reasons for Decision:

This was a deliberate bite once a tackle had been completed. An injury was sustained.

This was a deliberate, intentional, violent act. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated in the game. We therefore agree with the RFL’s assessment that this is correctly graded as Grade F.

We take into account the aggravating and mitigating factors. The player has no previous disciplinary findings recorded against her. She contested the matter and can therefore have no credit for plea.

We take into account the fact that the women’s game has been more affected by the pandemic with no games for a substantial period.

We therefore impose an 8 game suspension and £25 fine.

Suspension:

8 matches