Results of Disciplinary Hearings

The all-Welsh Committee, chaired by Roger Morris along with Terry Vaux and Robert Williams, considered the offence to be better categorised under Law 10.4(j), given the lifting nature of the dangerous tackle. Manoa Vosawai accepted this re-categorisation and also that he had committed the offence and that it had merited a red card.

The Committee, after viewing the video clips and the considering the player's explanation, found that the tackle should be categorised at the low end of the prescribed IRB sanctions with a starting point of 4 weeks, increasing by one week to reflect the need for deterrence, but reducing by two weeks due to the player's conduct and previous good disciplinary record.

Manoa Vosawai is duly suspended for three weeks up to and including 27 January 2013 and has the right of appeal.
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Simone Favaro, Benetton Treviso replacement, also appeared before the same Committee, but chaired by Robert Williams on this occasion. The player had been cited by the independent Citing Commissioner, Peter Brown (Scotland), under Law 10.4 (c) for kneeing an opponent in the back in the 74th minute of the same match.

The Committee chose to amend the charge against Simone Favaro to one of striking with the knee under Law 10.4(a), a change and a charge accepted by the player.

Having noted the players' acceptance of guilt, the Committee considered the offence to be at the low end, with a three week starting point.

In the absence of any aggravating factors and allowing mitigation of one week for the player's conduct and previous excellent disciplinary record, the Committee imposed a final sanction of two weeks, up to and including 20 January 2013 with the player having the usual right of appeal.

Note:
Law 10.4(a) Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).

Law 10.4(c) Kicking. A player must not kick an opponent

Law 10.4(e) Dangerous tackling. A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously

Law 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.