Case Number:

ON/356/24

James Bell #15, St Helens

Competition:

Challenge Cup

Match:

Leeds Rhinos v St Helens

Match Date:

2024-03-22

Incident:

Dangerous Contact

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

Grade B

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 25th March 2024, 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 30 27 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have applied pressure to the leg of your opponent. 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 B offence – Dangerous Contact – Defender uses any part of their body forcefully to twist, bend or otherwise apply pressure to the limb or limbs of an opposing player in a way that involves an unacceptable risk of injury to that player.

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

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

• Mr Bell can be seen to miss his front on contact with his opponent and his hanging onto the shirt from behind.

• The player initially walks back with his legs as the opponent is being tackled by his teammate.

• However, the Match Review Panel submit that Mr Bell then lifts his legs off the ground and contacts his opponent’s leg.

• It is the Match Review Panel’s opinion whilst Mr Bell’s feet do touch the ground prior to contacting the opponent’s leg, they are not bearing any significant weight.

• The footage clearly shows pressure being applied through the leg of the opponent. The player can be seen to get up in some apparent discomfort.

• The Match Review Panel believe this to be a reckless act which had the potential for injury.

• Taking all of the above factors into consideration the Match Review panel believed that Mr Bell should be charged with a Grade B Dangerous Contact offence.

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

The player is in attendance alongside Mike Rush (CEO) and Paul Wellens (Head Coach). The player pleads guilty but challenges the grading.

MR explained that the club were pleading guilty to the charge but feel that it should be a lower grade.

They believe that this was a careless tackle and not reckless. They accept that this was not great contact by JB but when slowed down it looks worse.

JB has not gone out to try and hurst his opponent. This is not a “ninja tackle” and the club are unsure how the MRP can judge the amount of weight that is applied by JB to the opponent.

There is no re-action from the opponents’ teammates and JB’s feet leave the ground for only a fraction of a second.

The opponent is not injured and goes on to play the remainder of the game.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions.

They have watched the footage on several occasions and on this occasion are in agreement that this is a reckless act and not a careless one.

This was a dangerous tackle and one which saw the player have both feet off the ground at one point. The Tribunal feel that it has been correctly graded at Grade B.

The player is therefore suspended for 1-match as was outlined in the penalty notice. The club will lose their £500 bond which was lodged to bring the challenge.

Suspension:

1 match