Referee and where applicable, Touch Judge, prepare a written report of the incident. Such Reports shall ordinarily be provided to a Designated Disciplinary Official within 2 hours of the conclusion of the Match.
The Player Ordered Off will be provided with a copy of the applicable report (s) and notified of the date, place and time of the Judicial Officer hearing.
The Judicial Officer hearing will take place as soon as reasonably practicable following the Match. The Player and witnesses will attend the hearing to give evidence.
The Judicial Officer shall consider the evidence. He may decide to impose a sanction or take no further action. Judicial Officers shall apply the IRB’s recommended sanctions for Illegal and/or Foul Play subject to relevant aggravating and/or mitigating factors.
A Player may appeal against the decision of the Judicial Officer provided such appeal is competent and made within 48 hours of notification of the Judicial Officer’s decision.
The appeal must state the specific grounds of appeal and a deposit of no more than 300ˆ must be paid upon the lodgement of an appeal.
The appeal will be heard by an Appeal Committee as soon as reasonably practicable after the appeal is lodged. Pending the appeal the Player is not entitled to play.
The Appeal Committee has the power to quash, vary or increase any decision and/or penalty appealed against and/or refund any deposit lodged on an appeal.
WHEN A PLAYER IS CITED- steps:
Citing Commissioners may cite a Player for Illegal and/or Foul Play, which in the opinion of the Citing Commissioner warranted the Player concerned being Ordered Off, notwithstanding that the act of Illegal and/or Foul Play may have been detected by the Referee and/or Touch Judge.
Participating Unions are not entitled to cite Players, but they may refer acts of Illegal and/or Foul Play through a Designated Disciplinary Official to the Citing Commissioner for consideration, provided such reference is made within 12 hours of the conclusion of the Match. The Citing Commissioner decides whether or not to pursue a citing complaint and his decision is final.
A Judicial Officer will hear the citing complaint as soon as reasonably practicable and will consider evidence from the Player and other relevant witnesses.
A Player may appeal against the decision of the Judicial Officer provided such appeal is made to a Designated Disciplinary Official within 48 hours of notification of the Judicial Officer’s decision. The appeal must state the specific grounds of appeal.
The appeal will be heard by an Appeal Committee as soon as reasonably practicable after the appeal is lodged. Pending the appeal the Player is not entitled to play.
Citing Complaints must be made by the Citing Commissioner to a Designated Disciplinary Official within 24 hours of the completion of the Match in which the Illegal and/or Foul Play is alleged to have occurred.
If a citing complaint is initiated by a Citing Commissioner a copy of the complaint is sent to the Player and the matter will be referred to a Judicial Officer.
The Judicial Officer shall consider the evidence. He may decide to impose a sanction or take no further action. Judicial Officers shall apply the IRB’s recommended sanctions for Illegal and/or Foul Play subject to relevant aggravating and/or mitigating factors.
The Appeal Committee has the power to quash, vary or increase any decision and/or penalty appealed against and/or refund any deposit lodged on an appeal.
SANCTIONS:11(IRB Recommended sanctions for offences within the playing enclosure – Regulation 17)
Law n°
Description
- Lower End (LE)
- Mid Range (MR)
- Top End (TE)
Maximum
Sanction
6.A.5
10.4 (k)
Verbal Abuse of Match Officials
LE: 6 weeks
MR: 12 weeks
TE: 18 + weeks
52 weeks
6.A.5
10.4 (k)
Physical Abuse of Match Officials
LE: 24 weeks
MR: 48 weeks
TE: 96 + weeks
Life
6.A.5
10.4 (k)
Threatening Action or words at Match Officials
LE: 12 weeks
MR: 24 weeks
TE: 48 + weeks
260 weeks
10.4 (a)
Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 8 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (a)
Striking another player with the elbow
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 9 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (a)
Striking with knee
LE: 3 weeks
MR: 8 weeks
TE: 12 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (a)
Striking with head
LE: 4 weeks
MR: 8 weeks
TE: 12 + weeks
104 weeks
10.4 (b)
Stamping on an opponent
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 9 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (b)
Trampling on an Opponent
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 9 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (d)
Tripping an Opponent with the foot/leg
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 4 weeks
TE: 7 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (e)
Kicking on Opponent
LE: 4 weeks
MR: 8 weeks
TE: 12 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (e)
Dangerous tackling of an opponent including early or late and including action known as the spear tackle
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 6 weeks
TE: 10 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (f)
Holding, pushing or obstructing an
Opponent not holding the ball except in a scrum, ruck or maul
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 4 weeks
TE: 6 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (f)
Dangerous charging or obstructing
or grabbing of opponent without
the ball, including shouldering
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 9 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (g)
Dangerous charging or obstructing
or grabbing of opponent with the
ball, including shouldering
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 9 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (i)
Causing a scrum, ruck or maul to
collapse
LE: 2 weeks
MR: 5 weeks
TE: 9 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (k)
Testicle grabbing or twisting or
squeezing
LE: 12 weeks
MR: 18 weeks
TE: 24 + weeks
208 weeks
10.4 (k)
Biting
LE: 12 weeks
MR: 18 weeks
TE: 24 + weeks
208 weeks
10.4 (k)
Contact with eyes or eyes area
LE: 12 weeks
MR: 18 weeks
TE: 24 + weeks
156 weeks
10.4 (k)
Spitting at players
LE: 4 weeks
MR: 7 weeks
TE: 11 + weeks
52 weeks
10.4 (k)
Verbal abuse of Players based on
Religion, Race, Colour, or National
or Ethnic Origin otherwise
LE: 4 weeks
MR: 8 weeks
TE: 13 + weeks
52 weeks
Tournament
specific law
Three yellow cards (Sin bin) during
the tournament
1 match
No
Tournament
specific law
One red card for two yellow cards
in the same game
1 match
No
In respect of offences not referred to above, appropriate sanction may be imposed at the discretion of the relevant Judicial Officer, Disciplinary Committee, Appeal Officer and/or Appeal Committee (as the case may be).
Notwithstanding the recommended sanctions in appendix 1 and/or the provisions of Regulation 17.14 in case where the player’s actions constitute mid range or top end of offending for any type of offence which had the potential to result and, in fact did result in serious/gross consequences to the health of the victim, the Judicial Officers and/or Disciplinary Committee may impose any period of suspension including a suspension for life.