All Blacks lock Scott Barrett has been handed a three-week ban by the SANZAAR judicial committee following his red card during Saturday’s 47-26 loss to the Wallabies.
The incident which saw Barrett make a
no-arms tackle on Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper, was seen as a sending off offence
in the eyes of referee Jerome Garces and had a major impact on the game.
Barrett went in front of the SANZAAR Foul
Play Review Committee and pleaded guilty to breaching Law 9.16 and following
consultation it was agreed that Barrett would be handed a three-week suspension.
Speaking on the decision the committee’s
chairman Adam Casselden confirmed that under some circumstances the 25-year-old
would have received double the punishment.
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including submissions from his legal representative, Stephen Cottrell, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.16. With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of six weeks due to World Rugby instructions that dictate any incident of foul play which results in contact with the head and/or neck must start at a mid-range level,” he said.
However due to Barrett’s clean past and after
he showed signs of being truly sorry for his actions it was agreed that the ban
would be reduced.
“However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player’s exemplary judicial record, his expressed remorse and the fact the player has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to three weeks. The Foul Play Review Committee adjourned the hearing to seek more evidence regarding the player’s proposed schedule of matches. Upon reconvening the Foul Play Review Committee was presented with extensive evidence demonstrating the player’s intended playing schedule. The player is therefore suspended for three weeks, up to and including Sunday 1 September 2019,” he added.
The result means that Barrett will be unavailable
for the All Blacks second Bledisloe Cup game against the Wallabies this weekend,
but he is however available for World Cup selection as his ban will have ended
before then.
