Disciplinary Update - Nick De Luca

The independent RaboDirectPRO12 Appeal Committee, chaired by Simon Thomas (Wales), together with Pat Barriscale (Ireland), allowed the appeal and categorised the illegal tackle, for which the player was red-carded in the RaboDirect PRO12 match between Ospreys and Edinburgh on 22 February 2013, as a mid-range offence carrying an entry point of 8 weeks. A further 2 weeks was added to reflect the need for a deterrent for this type of dangerous tackle and allowed mitigation of 3 weeks in arriving at a revised sanction of 7 weeks.

Nick De Luca is accordingly suspended until midnight on Sunday 14 April 2013 and not 26 May 2013 as originally set.
NOTE: 10.4(j) Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player's feet are still off the ground such that the player's head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.