Engliah lock Courtney Lawes banned for two Rugby World Cup matches for kneeing Mario Ledesma
Courtney Lawes, who was cited for illegally kneeing Argentinean player Mario Ledesma, has been banned for two Rugby World Cup matches by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) organisers on September 13. Lawes was asked to appear before the RWCL disciplinary committee
after he was caught in an illegal act on September 10. The committee found him guilty and banned him from participating in the next two games for England in the global event. He has become the first player to be handed out a punishment RWC organisers.
Lawes, a 22-year-old flanker, was feared to be ruled out from the remaining matches of the event according to the severity of the issue, however, he was lucky to be penalised for just two games. Ledesma was unable to continue play after receiving a severe
blow to his head from the English lock. Argentina was leading the game by a slight margin of 6-3 when the incident took place.
The English manager, Martin Johnson, had denied commenting on the issue yesterday on September 12 unless the RWCL verdict comes out. However, he promised to provide all the information required to Rugby World Cup Ltd to judge the act as it happened.
Terry Willis was appointed the judicial officer to probe into the matter and he gave his judgment after reviewing the matter. Rugby World Cup Ltd issued a press release and revealed Lawes’ ban. The statement read as, “Having conducted a detailed review of
all the evidence available... including all broadcast angles and additional evidence from the player and submissions from his counsel citing on the basis that the player had committed an act of foul play.”
The statement further said that, “In the context of the Rugby World Cup tournament a week equates to one match. Therefore, Lawes is suspended for two Rugby World Cup 2011 matches and is free to resume playing for England's Pool B match against Scotland in
Auckland on October 1.”
Courtney Lawes will not be available for England in its next two matches of the Rugby World Cup 2011 against Romania and Georgia.
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