HAYDEN TRIGGS SUSPENDED FOR ONE WEEK

Feb 23 • General News, Super Rugby • 1491 Views • Comments Off on HAYDEN TRIGGS SUSPENDED FOR ONE WEEK

Duty Judicial Officer: Robert Stelzner SC
Player: Hayden Triggs
Team: Blues
Position: Lock
Date of Incident: 21 February 2015
Nature of Offence: 10.4 (a) Punching or striking, A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee.
Elapsed time in match when offence occurred: 24th minute

SANZAR NEWS RELEASE

Hayden Triggs suspended for one week

The SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Robert Stelzner SC has accepted a guilty plea from Hayden Triggs of the Blues for contravening Law 10.4 (a) Punching or striking, after he was sent off during a Super Rugby match at the weekend.

Triggs has been suspended from all forms of the game for one week up to and including 28 February 2015.

The incident occurred in the 24th minute of the match between the Stormers and Blues played at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on 21 February 2015.

SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Robert Stelzner SC assessed the case.

In his finding, Stelzner ruled the following:

“As the Duty Judicial Officer, I considered all of the evidence before me including video footage leading up to the incident and issuing of the red card, match official reports for the incident and the submissions of Mr Aaron Lloyd which he made on behalf of the player.

“I found the incident to have a low-range entry point which stipulates a two-week suspension. This was then reduced by one week due to Triggs’ prompt admission of guilt, remorse for his actions and excellent disciplinary record in over 10 years of playing professional rugby.

“The applicable entry point for determining the seriousness of the offence was further informed by the existence of provocation and the fact that the player acted in retaliation.

“The adverse effect of the player’s actions on his own team’s prospects of winning by his being ordered off at a relatively early part of the match, after his team had been awarded a penalty which could potentially have put the Blues in the lead, further played a role in recommending the sanction.

“After taking all these factors into consideration, I found that a suspension of one week was warranted for the incident which was accepted by the player.

“The player is suspended for one week up to and including 28th February 2015.”

All SANZAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to a Duty Judicial Officer hearing to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the DJO.