Rugby Football League gives six-match suspension to Harlequins’ centre David Howell
Rugby Football League (RFL), the official governing body of the Rugby League in the United Kingdom, has handed over a six-match suspension to the Harlequins centre David Howell. RFL has announced the decision after their disciplinary committee meeting on
Tuesday, August 2.
Earlier, the RFL disciplinary board had directed Howell to appear before the committee. Howell was charged with the offence of biting a player from the opposite team.
The incident occurred in the last minute of the match between Harlequins and Catalan Dragons encounter on Saturday, July 30, in which Howell was caught biting the Dragons’ scrumhalf Remy Marginet.
The RFL disciplinary committee has stated that Howell is guilty of the offence and handed him a six-match suspension. The suspension has ended Howell’s 2011 Super League season even though he has missed out most of the games in the season due to injury.
The knee injury has kept him out of the action and the Dragon’s game was his first game in the last two months.
Additionally, Howell has been handed over a fine of 300-pound sterling for grade E offence, which is considered as one of the games most serious offence or infraction. The offence is similar to gouging and spitting offences, which are second to the offence
related to assault of match officials.
Harlequins have four more games to play in the 2011 Super League Season, which implies that the Howell’s suspension will be carried forward to the 2012 Super League season. Earlier in the current season, Howell had already served a one-match suspension,
after he was found guilty of performing a dangerous high tackle.
Alongside Howell, Harlequins Oliver Wilkes is also given a one-match suspension and fined 300 pound sterling for performing a dangerous and late tackle on Marginet during the 34th minute of the same Saturday’s game.
Harlequins so far has played 23 games and won just five during the 2011 Engage Super League season. They have four more games remaining in the season against Crusaders, St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants.
Harlequins will be without the services of the both Wilkes and Howell for their upcoming clash against the crusaders. However, Wilkes will be available for the team for their remaining three games of the season.
James Roby, Micky Higham, Liam Higgins and John Davies also appeared before the RFL disciplinary committee for their hearings on Tuesday August 02.
RFL has found St Helens hooker James Roby as not guilty, which will allow him to take part in the 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final clash against Wigan Warriors.
John Davies and Liam Higgins were handed over a one-match suspension and fined 300 pound sterling for their respective dangerous tackles on James Roby and Crusaders prop Jordan James respectively.
Meanwhile, Warrington Wolves hooker Micky Higham is handed over a two-match suspension and fined 300 pound sterling for his dangerous body contact against the Bradford Bulls centre Paul Sykes.
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