Melbourne Rebels prop Laurie Weeks has been suspended for 3 weeks after he was found guilty for punching Cell C Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis in their Round 16 encounter.
The sanction means that Weeks will play no further part in this year’s competion as his team only has 2 games left.
Weeks was found guilty under Law 10.4 (a): Punching or striking, after he was sent off during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.
The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the match with footage showing Weekes throwing a flurry of punches to Du Plessis’ head.
Weeks has been suspended from all forms of the game for 3 weeks up to and including 20 June 2015.
“I considered all of the evidence before me including video footage leading up to the incident and issuing of the Red Card, match official reports for the incident and the submissions which were made on behalf of the player,” Judicial Officer Adam Casselden said.
“I found the incident to have a mid-range entry point which stipulates a 5-week suspension. This was then reduced by 2 weeks due to Weeks’ prompt admission of guilt, remorse for his actions and excellent disciplinary record.
“The applicable entry point for determining the seriousness of the offence was determined by the excessive overreaction of multiple strikes by the player when compared to the act that initially provoked him to commit the offence.”
rugby365
Gosh that photographer didn’t try to catch his best side at all.
A child only his mother could love
I didn’t see what instigated Doctor Jannie’s slap to the back of Laurie’s head. (from behind I might add).
But it was no slap with a feather duster.
So……………………. while I agree whole heartedly with The Judicial Officers sentence on Weeks……………………………………………….I think Doc Jannie may have gotten off lightly.
3 @ cane:
The problem is Cane that there just seems to be no consistency in terms of the cencures meted out for different offences.
Weeks launched into the “good doctor” with a barrage that the Pacman would have been proud of and gets 3 weeks.
Horne (and for that matter Robbie Coetzee as well) tip tackles a player who then gets up and finishes the game, and he also gets 3 weeks. (4 weeks / 3 games in Coetzee’s case)
Surely deliberate physical assult has to carry a bigger deterent than a tackle that may or may not have been planned but was certainly in the course of normal play?
It is becoming more and more difficult to follow some of the reasoning associated with Rugby Union.
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