Case Number:

ON/1102/22

Maddox Jeffery #3, Wigan

Competition:

Academy

Match:

Hull KR Academy v Wigan Warriors Academy

Match Date:

2022-06-18

Incident:

Dangerous Tip Tackle

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (d)

Dangerous Throw – Driving player into the ground on head or neck

Grade E

Fine:

£50

Sanctions:

4-8

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Guilty

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 23 June 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(d) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 00:38:25 SharePoint Time of the above match after which you were dismissed. In the Panel’s opinion you lifted and drove your opponent into the ground and the opponent landed on the head/neck area. The Panel believe that your actions were unnecessary, against the spirit of the game and had the potential to injure your opponent.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade E offence (Dangerous Throw – Driving Player into the Ground on Head or Neck). The normal suspension range for such offence is a 4 to 8 Match Suspension.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place in approx. 38th minute.
• Mr Jeffrey was dismissed following the incident.
• The footage shows the opponent bump of an opponent before he is contacted by Mr Jeffrey.
• Mr Jeffrey can be seen to make good initial contact with his left shoulder and takes a grip of his opponent’s shorts.
• Mr Jeffrey then drives sideways but proceeds to lift the opponent off the ground and twists
• The opponent is lifted and twisted in mid-air by the player with his elbow pointed to the sky.
• Mr Jeffrey then goes to ground with his opponent and does not release at any point his opponent.
• It is therefore a drive and not a throw.
• The opponent lands on his head and neck first upon contacting the ground.
• Opponent is completely vulnerable due to the actions of Mr Jeffrey.
• Potential for serious injury.

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

Player in attendance alongside Darrell Goulding (Head of Youth). Player pleads Guilty.

DG informed the panel that they agreed that the tackle was reckless and had the potential to cause injury. He felt it was not done out of anger and that MJ would have to work on his technique, especially as he is a smaller player. He felt initial contact was perfect although the twisting of the opponent on contact did contribute to how the tackle ended.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

• Graded E due to;
- Vulnerability of the opponent.
- The highly dangerous action of the player.
- The potentially serious implications that a tackle of this nature may have. No mitigation that the opponent did not sustain an injury.
- Players have a duty of care to their opponent.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both side for their submissions.

They feel that initial contact was good, however, the player then drove upwards and twisted. Whilst the movement of the opponent may also have contributed the player continued to drive upwards and then also followed down as the opponent went to ground.

Whilst the incident happened very quickly the tackle had the potential to cause serious injury and was highly dangerous. Players have a duty of care to their opponents whilst on the field.

The panel note that the player has no previous record and are satisfied that there was not intent. Taking all this into account the player is therefore suspended for 6-matches and fined £50.

Suspension:

6 matches