Case Number:

ON/122/23

Shaun Kenny-Dowall #4, Hull KR

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Hull KR v Leigh Leopards

Match Date:

2023-03-03

Incident:

Dangerous Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Behaves in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game (includes Dangerous Contact).

Makes unnecessary contact with a Player who is or may be injured.

Grade E

Fine:

£750

Sanctions:

4-6

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 6th March 2023, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 58 53 Opta footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you made unnecessary contact with a Player who is or may be injured after making a tackle. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary and are against the true spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade E offence – Makes unnecessary contact with a Player who is or may be injured.

• The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 58 53 Opta time of the match.

• The RFL stance on such situations is clear and a well-established precedent was set in 2021 and upheld by the ORT on various occasions. Hakim Miloudi of Barrow Raiders and Tendai Gwaze of Halifax Panthers received 8 match suspensions having been charged with Grade F charges for moving an injured player. 2023 saw a specific charge brought in to further eradicate this unnecessary and dangerous action from the game.
• It is not for any player in any circumstances to have physical contact with a player who may be injured. Injured players need treatment from appropriately trained medical staff to ensure that any injury is appropriately managed in the initial stages and is not made worse.
• Whether a player is in fact injured, and if so to what extent, is exclusively a matter for the assessment of the medical staff in conjunction with any necessary match official input. Contact, of whatever type/force, from another player upon a seemingly injured player has the potential for serious medical consequences for that injured player.
• In very limited circumstances a player may render immediate physical assistance to another player who is obviously seriously injured. This is not the case here. Mr Kenny Dowall is in no way attempting to assist the injured player. His actions are in a purely negative manner and for his own personal gain.
• The incident was not part of play. There was no need to touch the opponent in any manner whatsoever and the action had the potential to cause further serious injury. The player was holding his face/head which suggested an injury to that area.

• Clubs have been sent various notes on not to do this and players have attended MRP training sessions with the message being specially raised that this is prohibited. Paul Cullen, Chair of MRP specifically spoke about this matter and showed various clips of lifting injured players to Hull KR, with Mr Kenny Dowall as the captain fully aware of and interacting with this process.
• This offence carries a possible Grading from E to F. The MRP had no option but to put this at a Grade E. In this case the MRP felt that the nature of the pull/lift, the fact that the opponent was already injured or possibly injured with the potential for further injury, the complete disregard for the opponent’s welfare and the negative and derogatory manner in which Mr Kenny Dowall acted – contrary to the true spirit of the game with such actions having no place on the Rugby League field of play.

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

Player in attendance alongside Paul Lakin (CEO). Player pleads Guilty.

PL explained that SKD accepted the charge, however, they wish to discuss the exceptional circumstances that they feel place the incident outside of the Grade E category.

PL asked the Tribunal to consider that this was a “split second reaction” and was not reported by the Referee. Although pleading guilty the club feel that this incident had no baring on the outcome of the game and was very minimal. PL asked the Tribunal to look outside of the grading range die to the exceptional disciplinary record of SKD as he has not had a single charge in a 16-year career which has seen him play 388 matches. They feel that this constitutes exceptional circumstances.

SKD told the Tribunal that this incident happened in the heat of the moment and a knee jerk reaction. He also claimed that the tackle was not complete and that it was a tug as part of the tackle rather than him pulling the player up.

After been reminded by the Chair that the pre-season education provided to clubs specifically covered this charge, PL confirmed that the club accept this and added this was a factor in them entering a guilty plea.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal commended the player for his previous disciplinary record, however, they felt that this not suffice to meet the exceptional circumstances.

As such, the are in agreement that the suspension will be at the bottom end of the grading scale which is 4-matches. The player will also ve fined £750.

Suspension:

4 matches