Round 5 of the European Champions Cup produced an odd assortment of transgressions that resulted in citings – including abuse of a match official, eye-gouging, biting and testicle grabbing.
Viktor Kolelishvili:
Clermont Auvergne flank Viktor Kolelishvili heads the lengthy list of citings.
Kolelishvili was cited for his ill-advised decision to lay his hands on a referee in the match against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium last Friday, January 15.
Kolelishvili pushed the match referee, Wayne Barnes (England), in the 17th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).
The complaint was made by the citing commissioner Mike Rafter (England).
David Martin (Ireland) has been appointed as the judicial officer for the disciplinary hearing, which will take place in Paris on Tuesday.
Under Law 10.4 (m) – Physical abuse of match officials – a player could be banned for life, although low-end entry range is 24 weeks.
Alexandre Bias:
Meanwhile Alexandre Bias (the Castres Olympique lock), who was issued with a Red Card during the European Challenge Cup Round 5 match against the Newport Gwent Dragons last Friday, will also face a disciplinary haring.
Bias was sent off by referee Peter Fizgibbon (Ireland) in the 57th minute of the match for an alleged dangerous tackle on the Newport Gwent Dragons prop Phil Price – in contravention of Law 10.4 (e).
David Martin (Ireland) has been appointed as the judicial officer for the disciplinary hearing, which will take place in Paris on Tuesday.
Tim Swinson:
Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) was also cited, following the Champions Cup match against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens last Sunday.
Swinson is alleged to have punched the Northampton Saints replacement hooker, Mikey Haywood in the 74th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (a).
Swinson was shown a Yellow Card for the incident by referee Romain Poite (France).
The complaint was made by the citing commissioner Jeff Mark (Wales).
Simon Thomas (Wales) has been appointed as the judicial officer for the disciplinary hearing which will take place in London on Wednesday.
Ryan Wilson:
Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) was cited following the Champions Cup match against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.
Wilson is alleged to have grabbed the testicles of the Northampton Saints scrumhalf Lee Dickson in the 25th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).
The complaint was made by the citing commissioner Jeff Mark (Wales).
Simon Thomas (Wales) has been appointed as the judicial officer for the disciplinary hearing which will take place in London on Wednesday.
Chris Ashton:
Chris Ashton (Saracens) was cited following the Champions Cup match against Ulster on Saturday.
Ashton is alleged to have made contact with the eye(s) and / or eye area of the Ulster centre Luke Marshall in the 16th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).
The complaint was by the citing commissioner Yves Thieffine (France).
Jean-Noel Couraud (France) has been appointed as the judicial officer for the disciplinary hearing which will take place in London on Wednesday.
Rhys Thomas:
Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons) was cited following the Challenge Cup match against Castres Olympique last Friday.
Rhys Thomas is alleged to have bitten the Castres Olympique back row Thomas Caballero in the 67th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).
The complaint was made by citing commissioner Dave Guyan (England).
Rod McKenzie (Scotland) has been appointed as the judicial officer for the disciplinary hearing which will take place in London on Wednesday.
Viktor Kolelishvili pushes Referee Wayne Barnes – footage:
rugby365
The ref pusher got 14 weeks ban and Bias 1 week, don’t know about the others who were on trial today
@ Bullscot:
Who does he think he is?
A soccer player?
@ Bullscot:
I was VERY surprised Barnes didn’t give him a yellow card at the time.
In fact, Barnes was quite calm about it all.
@ Scrumdown:
Imagine if the ref’ had been Andre Watson!
I think Barnes handled it sensibly. He was in the players way.
@ BrumbiesBoy:
@ Scrumdown:
@ Lion4ever:
Hi all think it was just a moment of madness and Kolelishvili is probably still not sure why he did it. When I first heard the description of the event I thought it was genuinely just a case of the ref being in the players way while he was trying to get to tackle someone at the ruck but on seeing the video clip couldn’t fathom out at all why the player did it. Barnes was there trying to keep an eye on what was going on in the ruck and I don’t think he was in the players way at the point he was pushed but the player may have been anticipating that he could end up in the way if the Ospreys decided to pass the ball down the line.
Don’t think it is right that a player lifts his hand to a ref at any time and so he is rightly punished. It looks to me as they are trying to make an example of this player and hopefully it will make others think twice, but they could also be getting tougher in European Rugby as we saw with the guy who gouged CJ Stander’s eye the weekend before getting a 15 week ban. For too long I think in general players have got off too lightly with foul play so maybe they are tightening up on this, or is this just me being too optimistic? The one consistent thing about the disciplinary process is it’s inconsistency I feel. Consistently inconsistent if that makes sense
Chris Aston got a 10 week ban. That rules him out of the 6 Nations unless he appeals and has it overturned.
Will need to find footage of the Chris Ashton incident as he gets 10 weeks but the Stade player got 15 weeks for “contact in or near the eye area”
Ryan Wilson cleared of any wrong doing. Tim Swinson only 1 week ban, initially given 2 weeks then the usual halving.
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