Wallabies lock Darcy Swain has been suspended for 6 games following his dangerous cleanout on Quinn Tupaea.
Swain was yellow carded during last week’s 39-37 defeat to the All Blacks, forcing the Chiefs back from the field with a reported ruptured medial cruciate ligament injury.
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SANZAAR deemed on Friday the incident met the red-card threshold, with the Judicial Committee ruling it met the mid-level entry point of six weeks.
Whilst they seemed to reaffirm Wallabies teammate Allan Alaalatoa’s suggestions that it was not an intentional act on the lock’s behalf, the reckless nature gave them little choice but to hand down a lengthy ban.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, having heard from the player and from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Judicial Committee upheld the Citing and deemed the incident meet the red card threshold for Law 9.11,” Judicial Committee Chair, Andre Oosthuizen SC ruled.
“With respect to sanction the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six (6) weeks. Through the actions by the player such as position, control, and player movements they found the incident was not intentional, however, it was highly reckless.
“With respect to sanction the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six (6) weeks.
“Through the actions by the player such as position, control, and player movements they found the incident was not intentional, however, it was highly reckless.â€?
Swain will miss Saturday’s clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park, as well the Wallabies’ games against Scotland and France.
He will serve the rest of the sentence with the Australia A program in October, named in the 35-player squad on Wednesday.
It is the locks’ second suspension of 2022, missing the rest of the England series after his head butt on Jonny Hill.
