Disciplinary update: Caroline Boujard decision
France replacement winger, Caroline Boujard, appeared today before an independent Disciplinary Committee, having been cited for tackling an opposition player whilst she was in the air, in contravention of Law 10.4(i), during the Women’s Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham on Saturday 4 February (for which she had also been issued a yellow card).
Ms Boujard accepted that she had committed an act of foul play which was worthy of a red card, and claimed that the action had been reckless rather than deliberate.
The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Achille Reali (Italy), alongside Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and Jennifer Donovan (Ireland), having reviewed the footage of the incident and all other evidence, as well as hearing submissions from the player and her representatives, agreed that the act was reckless, and categorised the offending as low end, which carries a four week entry point under World Rugby’s sanction table. The Committee further determined that there were no aggravating factors and the player had meet all mitigating factors permitted, and therefore decided to reduce the entry point by two weeks.
The player is therefore suspended from playing rugby for a total of two weeks. Taking into consideration that the player has no scheduled matches on the weekend of 18/19 February, the player is suspended until midnight on Sunday 26 February. The player is, therefore, eligible to play again on Monday 27 February.
Note:
Law 10.4(i) – A player must not tackle nor tap, push or pull the foot or feet of an opponent jumping for the ball in a lineout or in open play.
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