Portugal’s Rafael Simões attended an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing after he was cited for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous tackle) in Portugal’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool C match against Wales on 16 September.
The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Jean-Noël Couraud (France), joined by former international player Leon Lloyd (England) and former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland).
The player accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but submitted that it did not reach the red card threshold.
Having considered all the available evidence, including the application of World Rugby’s Head Contact Process, the submissions by the player and his representative, and all available camera angles and technology, the independent Committee determined that :
- An act of foul play had occurred;
- The degree of force was not sufficiently high to meet the red card threshold and the citing was therefore not upheld.
The player is free to play with immediate effect.
Grotas
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) was founded in 1879, serving as the governing body for rugby union in Ireland. Responsible for organizing and promoting the sport, the IRFU plays a crucial role in the development and growth of rugby across the island, both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
retromirage
Rugby first appeared at the Olympics 1900 – Interestingly, rugby first appeared as an Olympic sport in 1900 when the games were held in Paris. Since then, it’s appeared intermittently until its formal reintroduction at the Rio De Janeiro Games 2016, with both a male and female 7’s tournament played. At those games, Fiji won the men’s tournament winning their first ever Olympic medal in the country’s history.