RFU disciplines Manu Tuilagi for punching Chris Ashton on the field – Rugby news
Leicester Tigers centre, Manu Tuilagi, is banned for 10 weeks from participating in any matches for delivering punches to Northampton Saints winger Chris Ashton during the first Aviva Premiership’s semi-final on Saturday, May
14 at Welford Road, Leicester.
Tigers comprehensively defeated the Saints 11 – 3 to confirm their final outing against the Saracens at Twickenham on May 28. The incident occurred during the 32nd minute of the game with both teams fighting for ball,
territory possession and were trying to gain a lead over each other. The scorecard read nil – all as Ashton forced Tuilagi’s neck with both hands and exerted pressure with his right knee.
Tigers centre picked himself up from the ground and returned the favour to the Saints winger with a three consecutive punches in a space of just three second. Tuilagi started with two weak punches with a right hand and followed
it with a third massive punch to Ashton’s left eye region that shook the wingers face.
Following the incident the on-field referee sin binned both players however interestingly he did not showed a red card to Tuilagi over his actions. Tuilagi returned to field, scored the decisive, and only try of the match during
the 71st minute to secure the game for Tigers.
Earlier in the week, Rugby Football Union (RFU) citing commission Alan Mansell cited Tuilagi over the incident. Mansell called Tuilagi for RFU disciplinary hearing at London on Wednesday May 18, 2011.
Yesterday Tuilagi appeared before the RFU disciplinary panel comprising of Disciplinary Officer Judge Jeremy Summers, Philip Evans and Jeff Blackett. The 20-year-old Tuilagi admitted the charge.
Providing the details of the hearing and the panel’s find RFU's disciplinary officer Judge Jeff Blackett confirmed that Tuilagi is handed over a reduced 10 weeks suspension from the game.
Blackett said, “This was a top-end entry offence but we also determined that there was some provocation from Chris Ashton, who pushed and struck Manu Tuilagi in the back with his knee.” Blackett further added, “We determined
that the appropriate entry point within the range was 10 weeks and this was reduced by 50 per cent to reflect Manu's youth and inexperience, his admission of guilt and his genuine remorse.”
The ban is effective from May 19 and will last until June 23. The 10 weeks ban has put curtains on the Samoan born's first ever premiership finals and he will be sidelined from the England Saxons’ Churchill cup that will begin
during the first week of June, 2011.
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