Case Number:

ON/1182/22

Harry Egley #12, Castleford

Competition:

Scholarship

Match:

Huddersfield Giants U16s v Castleford Tigers U16s

Match Date:

2022-06-29

Incident:

Dangerous Throw

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (d)

Dangerous Throw - Driving player into ground on head or neck

Grade E

Sanctions:

4-8

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 7 July 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 00:01:38 SharePoint Time of the above match after which you were sin binned. 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 – Lifting Player into a Dangerous Throw). The normal suspension range for such offence is a 4 to 8 Match Suspension.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place in approx. 2nd minute
• Mr Egley was sin binned following the incident.
• The footage shows the player initially make contact with the opponent’s shirt and a tea mate is also involved in the tackle.
• The player then initiates a grip of his opponents left leg.
• Mr Egley then drives upwards 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 Egley 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 Egley.
• Potential for serious injury.

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

Player not in attendance. Player pleads Guilty via e-mail from club.

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:

Charged with Grade E throw – throwing player into the ground.

The Tribunal reviewed the footage and heard submissions on behalf of the MRP. The player did not attend and was not represented. He pleaded guilty via correspondence.

Throwing the opponent to the ground in the manner the player did could have resulted in very serious injury indeed. The RFL are committed to ensuring that these sort of tackles do not occur and are eradicated from the game.

The Tribunal regard this matter very seriously and despite the players young age, his previous good record and his plea of guilty we start at the very top of the category and giving him appropriate credit for those matters and we impose a 6 match suspension.

Suspension:

6 matches