Case Number:

ON/0155/24

Charbel Tasipale #22, Castleford Tigers

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors

Match Date:

2024-02-17

Incident:

Head Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (b)

Head Contact

Grade C

Fine:

£250

Sanctions:

1 Match Penalty Notice

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 19th February 2024, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(b) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 04 13 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have contacted the opponent’s head. In the Panel’s opinion they believed your actions to be misconduct and against the spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade C offence – Head Contact.

The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 1 to a 2-Match suspension.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.

• Mr Tasipale contacts the head of his opponent with his own head.

• The MRP deemed this to be forceful and dangerous and the level of force was low.

• Therefore, the entry grading the Match Review Panel submit is a Grade C charge.

• There are no mitigating factors present in this incident the Match Review Panel submit.

• The aggravating factors are that;

- Tackler makes no definite attempt to change height in an effort to avoid the ball carrier’s head.
- the trajectory of the tacklers head is always going towards the ball carrier’s head.

• The Match Review Panel however do not believe that the aggravating factors are sufficient to move this matter to a Grade D offence and that this incident is worthy of a Grade C charge.

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

Player in attendance alongside Craig Lingard (Head Coach), Mark Grattan (MD) and Danny Wilson (Head of Rugby). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

CL explained that the club felt this charge should be a Grade B offence.

The footage available wasn’t from a great angle and he felt there mitigating factors and referenced point 2 of the Head Contact Sanctioning Framework.

He added that CT had his legs bent and changed his height on the point of impact which saw both players clash heads.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

Having listened to them and watched the footage several times they are of the opinion that the player does bend his legs to try and reduce his height. Taking that mitigation into account the Tribunal think the grading of the offence can be reduced from a Grade C to a Grade B.

The challenge is therefore successful. The player is therefore given a £250 fine.