Case Number:

ON/1250/22

Luke Nelmes #8, Oldham

Competition:

League 1

Match:

Oldham RLFC v Rochdale Hornets

Match Date:

2022-07-10

Incident:

Late hit on passer

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 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:

£75

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 14 July 2022, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) Dangerous Contact during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01:05:38 SharePoint time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you hit your opponent late without the ball causing flexion to the neck/spinal 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 D offence in breach of Law 15.1(i) – Dangerous Contact – Behaves in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game (includes 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 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 to 5 matches suspension.

• Match Review Panel reviewed incident which occurs at 00:14:47 SharePoint time
• Player approaches opponent following a pass
• Player has an unobstructed view of opponent and the ball
• Player approaches at speed generating high force to the contact
• Player does not make any adaptations after the opponent has released the ball
• Promotes contact and ploughs into his opponent at force
• Player makes contact as opponent is in a relaxed, unsighted, vulnerable position
• Player demonstrates no attempt to tackle opponent
• Extreme degree of lateness
• Opponent’s body demonstrates serious whiplash action – flexion of head/neck/spinal column
• Opponent lands forcefully
• Opponent is clearly in some discomfort/distress and is hurt by the actions of the player.
• Charge – Law 15.1(i) – Dangerous Contact –“late hit on the passer”

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

Player in attendance alongside Chris Hamilton (Chairman). Player pleads guilty.

LN informed the panel that he agreed that late contact was made with the opponent. He said that he had not seen that the ball had gone as the opponent had his back to him. He had no intention to drop his shoulder and if he had known the ball had gone he would have moved past the opponent.

He said there was no malice involved and that the opponent was not injured and carried on playing. He felt that in these situations there are split seconds involved.

CH explained he agreed with the comments made by LN. There was no “extreme force” force used and he had a split second to decision to make. LN did not had a view of the ball and he could not pull out, he ran into his opponent but did not use his arms. The opponent was able to carry on playing. LN has accepted his guilty and the club feel that any suspension should be at the lower end of the grading.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

Grade D due to:
• Highly reckless contact as player sees the ball is passed and still proceeds into contact
• High force and extremely late
• Unnecessary and avoidable contact o Involves an unacceptable risk of injury to opponent
• Lack of duty of care demonstrated towards opponent
• Complete disregard for everything the sport is doing relating to concussive and sub-concussive injuries.

Aggravating Factors:

09/06/22 – Dangerous Contact (Grade A – 0 matches)
09/06/22 – Dangerous Contact (Grade B – 1 match)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal finds the MRP’s interpretation of this particular late hit considerably more compelling than the players attempt to explain what in reality was a very late and forceful hit on a vulnerable player.

Further, when assessing the penalty that has to be imposed the Tribunal note that an aggravating feature of the players position is that only a month before this incident he had been made the subject of two other offences from a game on 9th June relating to another instance of Dangerous Contact as well as a crusher tackle (Graded as an A and B offence respectively with a one match suspension).

Suspension:

5 matches