Case Number:

ON/151/23

Benjamin Hursey Hord #15, Leeds

Competition:

Reserves Championship

Match:

Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls

Match Date:

2023-03-02

Incident:

Dangerous Throw

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (d)

Dangerous Throw – throwing player into the ground

Grade E

Fine:

£75

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 9th March 2023, 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 35 55 SharePoint footage time of the above match. You were sin binned following the incident. In the Panel’s opinion you have lifted your opponent and thrown him to the ground. The Panel believed that your actions were unnecessary, had the potential to cause injury 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 – Dangerous Throw - throwing player into the ground.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 4 to 6 matches.

• MRP reviewed an incident which took place at 35 55 SharePoint time of the above match.

• Mr Hursey-Hord was sin binned following the incident.

• The footage shows the opponent take an inside ball and be contacted by Mr Hursey-Hord.

• Mr Hursey-Hord can be seen to make good initial contact with his right shoulder and wraps around the leg and lower back of the opponent.

• The opponent is lifted and twisted in mid-air by the player and seemingly there is an extra throwing action by the player as the opponent is going to ground the MRP submit.

• The opponent lands on his head and neck first upon contacting the ground.

• Opponent is completely vulnerable due to the actions of Mr Horsley Hurd.

• This is an extremely dangerous act with the potential for serious injury.

• Graded E due to;

- Vulnerability of the opponent.

- The highly dangerous actions of the player and the extra thrust to the ground after the player is lifted.

- The potentially serious implications that a tackle of this nature may have in terms of an individual landing head/neck first in the ground. No mitigation that the opponent did not sustain an injury.

- Players have a duty of care to their opponents.

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

Player in attendance alongside John Bastian (Player Pathway Development Manager). Player pleads guilty to the charge.

JB explained that BHH understood the seriousness of the incident and that it was caused due to poor technique. He was also aware of the potential for serious injury that could have occurred.

He felt that BHH was not the kind of character to purposely complete a tackle this way and that his actions were not malicious. BHH only started playing RL at 15-years old and since then he has also missed 18 months of his development due to the Covid pandemic. Added to this he has also had 15 months out of the game due to injury and this was his first game back.

He felt that BHH was probably rusty after such a long absence and whilst he deserves to be punished a big suspension would be even more considerable for a Reserve player where games are only staged every other week. BHH also apologised to his opponent after the game.

BHH then addressed the Tribunal. He explained that he did not mean for the tackle to end the way it did. He had his head down and he did not see where his opponent was. He felt that this was unfortunate and that he felt bad about how it had ended.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal note that the player had pleaded guilty and acknowledged that his actions were wrong. They also thank him for attending.

Taking everything into account the Tribunal feel that the player should be suspended for 4-matches. He will also be fined £75

Suspension:

4 matches