Case Number:

ON/0180/24

Paul Seguier #12, Catalans Dragons

Competition:

Super League

Match:

Catalans Dragons v Warrington Wolves

Match Date:

2024-02-17

Incident:

Head Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (b)

Head Contact

Grade D

Fine:

£250

Sanctions:

2 Match Penalty Notice and a £250 Fine

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 01 48 37 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 D offence – Head Contact

The normal suspension range for such offence is from a 2 to a 3-Match suspension and a fine.

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

• Mr Seguier 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 high given the player had to leave the field of play for a head injury assessment.

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

• The mitigating factors are the player is making a definite attempt to change his height in an effort to avoid the ball carrier’s head.

• The aggravating factors are that the trajectory of the tacklers head is always going towards the ball carrier’s head.

• The Match Review Panel are of the view however that the mitigating factor is most prevalent in this incident that they can bring this down to a Grade D charge.

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

Player in attendance alongside Steve McNamara (Head Coach). Player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

SM said the club felt the incident warranted a Grade B grading rather than Grade D. this was a new rule and players were still getting used to it. There was no previous similar incident to look at, only one which was used in a pre-season meeting. He then talked the panel through the tackle.

PS also hurt his head in the clash despite making attempt to avoid contact with the opponent’s head. Contact is not direct as he hits the opponent’s shoulder first. Contact to the head is secondary.

SM felt there were several mitigating factors and referenced points 2 & 3 of the Head Contact Sanctioning Framework. He added that the incident happened in the 79th minute of the game and left his side down to 12-men in a closely fought contest.

PS has just one charge in 95 SL appearances and showed immediate remorse following the clash and called for medical assistance for his opponent.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

It seems to the Tribunal that this is a Grade E starting point as there is forceful and Dangerous Contact been explained to us.

It is accepted that Mr Seguier makes a marked attempt lower his height and there is some change of direction albeit not significant, but enough to mean that he was having to make a tackle with the opposite shoulder to that which he had set up significant contribution to the head contact.

The footage is less clear as to primary and secondary contact but whichever it is the contact is still forceful to the head and the mitigating factor requires the contact with the head to be minor it was not in this case.

We therefore are of the view that this was a Grade C offence not D as submitted by the MRP. This means that the player is suspended for 1 match and fined £250.

Suspension:

1 match