USA centre Alev Kelter appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday, 20 May (New Zealand time), having received a red card for an offence contrary to Law 9.12 (physical abuse, stamping) in the USA’s Pacific Four Series 2025 match against Australia on Saturday, 17 May.
The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Michael Heron KC (New Zealand), joined by former international players Becky Essex (England) and Ofisa Tonu’u (New Zealand).
The player accepted that she had committed an act of foul play and that the referee’s decision to award a red card was correct.
The Committee found that there was foul play and that it met the red card threshold consistent with the referee’s decision. There was contact with the head by the player’s boot. The player repeatedly stamped her foot and deliberately so but the Committee accepted the player’s evidence that she did not intend to contact the head. On careful review of the footage, and considering the player’s evidence and submission, the Committee found that the player was not deliberately targeting the head of the Australian player, but rather was reckless in her actions (as she accepted). The contact to the head was glancing or grazing rather than direct and targeted. The Committee was not satisfied that the player looked down and was aware she was contacting the head of the Australian player.
On that basis therefore and in considering sanction, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in head contact (six matches). Taking all considerations into account, including the player’s disciplinary record, early acknowledgment of foul play and her clear remorse, the Disciplinary Committee determined that full mitigation was appropriate, resulting in a final sanction of three matches to be applied as follows:
- USA v New Zealand – Saturday, 24 May (Pacific Four Series)
- Bay Breakers v Chicago Tempest – Saturday, 7 June (Women’s Elite Rugby, USA)
- Bay Breakers v Denver Onyx – Saturday, 14 June (Women’s Elite Rugby, USA)
The player has the right of appeal within 48 hours of the issuing of the full written decision
True Sweetness
South Africa’s triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, held in South Africa, was a symbol of unity for the nation, with the iconic image of Nelson Mandela wearing a Springbok jersey while handing the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar. This event was immortalized in the 2009 film “Invictus.”
Devil Bread
The African Leopards are a pan-African representative team that aims to promote rugby throughout the continent.