RBS 6 Nations 2017 – Disciplinary update – Masselli and Manni decisions
Two Italy under 20 players appeared today at separate disciplinary hearings, having been red-carded by the referee in Friday’s Six Nations under 20s Championship match against Scotland at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld.
a) Lorenzo Masselli, the Italy u20 lock forward, had been sent off in the match for infringing law 10.4(i), tackling the jumper in the air. The independent Six Nations Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Simon Thomas (Wales), alongside Mike Hamlin and Tony Wheat (both England), having reviewed video footage of the incident and all other evidence, and having listened to representations by and on behalf of the player, determined that, on the balance of probabilities, the decision to issue the red card had been wrong and imposed no sanction on the player, who is free to resume playing immediately.
b) Lodovico Manni, a replacement for Italy under the 20s in the same match, had been sent off for infringing 10.4(k), dangerous play in a scrum, ruck or maul. The player had acknowledged that his actions had constituted foul play and warranted a red card. The same independent Disciplinary Committee, having reviewed video footage of the incident and all other evidence, and having listened to representations by and on behalf of the player, determined that the offending was at the lower end of World Rugby’s scale of seriousness, carrying an entry point suspension of two weeks. The Disciplinary Committee noted that there were no aggravating factors and that there were a number of mitigating factors and reduced the suspension by 50%, leaving the player suspended for one week and able to return to play on Monday, 27 March 2017.
Both players and Six Nations Rugby were reminded of their rights of appeal.
Law 10.4(i): Tackling the jumper in the air. 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.
Law 10.4(k): Dangerous play in a scrum, ruck or maul. The front row of a scrum must not rush against its opponents. Front row players must not intentionally lift opponents off their feet or force them upwards out of the scrum. Players must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto a player in the ruck or maul. Players must not intentionally collapse a scrum, ruck or maul.
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