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Wed 10 Apr 2019 | 08:13
Some called ruck clearout red card harsh but now Tom Youngs has also been suspended

5
Comments

In one of the more controversial calls from the weekend, Leicester Tigers hooker Tom Youngs was red carded for a dangerous clearout during their heavy loss to Exeter Chiefs. If Leicester fans thought that was bad, it's just got worse as a suspension has been handed down. 

Youngs appeared before an independent disciplinary panel this evening after he was shown a red card by referee Tom Foley on Saturday. This was for making contact with Chiefs lock Ollie Atkins' head in a ruck contrary to Law 9.20(a) - dangerous play in a ruck or maul.

Youngs accepted the charge and was given a three week suspension by the independent panel comprising Philip Evans QC with Richard Whittam QC and  Chris Skaife.

Panel chair Philip Evans QC said: “The player accepted the charge and the facts as alleged including having made contact with his opponent's head. The panel found the appropriate starting point was 6 weeks (mid-range).

"Given his early plea of guilty, his candid evidence to the panel, obvious remorse, playing record and personal mitigation including off-field mitigating factors, exceptionally, the panel felt able to reduce the period of suspension by 3 weeks.”

He is free to play again on 7 May 2019 taking into account Leicester Tigers' upcoming fixtures.

Leicester sit 10th in the Gallagher Premiership table, five points above bottom side Newcastle Falcons.

If the above video doesn't play for you, you can see one angle of it in the official match highlights below

Posted By: Grant Constable

5 Comments

  • colombes
    5:18 PM 11/04/2019

    I don't even understand why we are debating about that one... It's not even a clear out, just a dangerous, uncontrolled and reckless fall on the neck and head zone. Paraplegic stuff. Get your ban and learn better.

    • danknapp
      9:14 AM 15/04/2019

      The guy is on the ground (so not part of the ruck) and is rolling away from the tackle. Youngs deserved a red for the contact and a ban for being fick.

  • 45678
    12:06 AM 11/04/2019

    Problem with this is what can you clear out in a ruck? If the exposed part of a player is the head /neck/shoulder what else can you do? Let them be a c**t at the breakdown? You have to make contact with something otherwise it’s not a ruck and then we have...Italy 

    • dai154
      10:12 AM 12/04/2019

      Well I am not sure if you were looking at the same thing, he is supposed to get a shouldler under the head and "drive" him away.  Tom, dives into the neck from above and makes no effort to wrap his arms around.  Purely dangerous and it didn't have to be - Red

    • rugbydump
      10:58 AM 11/04/2019

      It's definitely a tricky one, especially at high speed. Players have to fly into the ruck and do what they can to clear out the threat. Ben Ryan bangs on about this, feeling that the Jackal itself should be outlawed. Unfortunately, the result here was dangerous. This area probably needs to be looked at.

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