SANZAR’s one-week ban ends James O’Connor’s Super Rugby season – Rugby news
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR) has handed over a week’s suspension to the Western Force’s utility back, James O’Connor, for his dangerous tackle in their last game against the Reds.
Western Force and Reds were playing at Perth Oval on Saturday, June 11, as part of their 2011 Super Rugby round 17 games. Reds second-half efforts saw them home by a margin of three points with the final scorecard reading 24
– 21. O’Connor was cited for his dangerous tackle on the Reds Captain, James Horwill, during the first-half of Saturday’s game. The referee for the match, Stuart Dickinson, did not penalise the Force’s full back during the match.
At the end of the match, the SANZAR citing commissioner threw the book at the Force’s impressive youngster for dangerously lifting the Reds’ captain James Horwill based on video evidence from the match.
SANZAR citing commissioner has cited O’Connor tackle as a violation of the International Rugby Board (IRB) law 10.4(j) that relates dangerous lifting and dropping of the player. O’Connor was directed to appear before the SANZAR
disciplinary hearing on Sunday June 12, 2011 at Perth.
The SANZAR judicial officer, Michael Cashman, chaired Sunday’s hearing. Cashman asked O’Connor to comment on the alleged violation of the IRB law. At the end of the hearing, Cashman handed over a one-week suspension to O’Connor
for the violation of the IRB law 10.4 (j). He further added that he considers the tackle as foul play. However, he confirmed that the video evidence nor the comments from both parties suggest that the tackle was performed in ill-will.
Cashman added, “Taking account of mitigating factors and noting the absence of any aggravating features, the sanction is reduced to one week suspension.” Cashman has placed O’Connor’s offence in the low level offence for which
the minimum suspension is a week.
Perth based Australian Super Rugby franchise Western Force has opted not to challenge the one week ban.
The 21-year old O’Connor made his debut for the Western Force against the Reds at Brisbane in 2008. He so far has made 38 super rugby appearances and scored 306 points that includes 10 tries, 23 conversions and 73 penalties.
O’Connor is also the leading point scorer for the Force in this year’s Super Rugby competition. He has scored 170 points for the Force in the super xv that includes three tries, seven conversions and forty seven penalties.
O’Connor so far has scored highest number of the penalties in the super xv. The ban has ruled him out of the Force’s last game of the season against the Rebels at AAMI Park, Melbourne on Friday, June 17.
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