URC Red Card Decisions

The Disciplinary process related to Marcell Coetzee’s Red Card in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 5 game against Edinburgh Rugby on Friday, 17 November has resulted in a three game suspension

After an act of foul play by Vodacom Bulls player No 6 (Marcell Coetzee), referee Chris Busby showed the Player a Red Card in the 42nd minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

In the Player’s responses to the independent Disciplinary Committee overseeing the disciplinary process (Ben Rutherford, Chair (IRFU), Donal Courtney (IRFU), Jan Gedrych (WRU)), he accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but contested that it warranted a Red Card. The Committee considered all of the evidence against the High Contact Process and found that the incident did meet the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting 6 weeks. The Player received three weeks (50%) mitigation due, in particular, to his previously exemplary disciplinary record which results in a three game suspension.

Should the Player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one game.

Fixtures Marcell Coetzee is unavailable for:

• Vodacom Bulls v Connacht 25 November 2023, Vodacom URC
• Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks 2 December 2023, Vodacom URC
• Vodacom Bulls v Saracens 9 December 2023, Investec Champions Cup* subject to replacement by successful completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme

MATHEW PROTHEROE (RED CARD)

The Disciplinary process related to Mathew Protheroe Red Card in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 5 game against Dragons RFC on Saturday, 18 November has resulted in a three game suspension.

After an act of foul play against Ospreys player No 11 (Mathew Protheroe), referee Ben Whitehouse showed the Player a Red Card in the 27th minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

In the Player’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Rose Alice Murphy), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card. Mrs. Murphy found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting 6 weeks. The Player received 3 weeks (50%) mitigation due to his good record and apology which results in a three game suspension.

Should the Player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one game.

Fixtures Mathew Protheroe is unavailable for:

• Ospreys v Scarlets 26 November 2023, Vodacom URC
• Benetton v Ospreys 2 December 2023, Vodacom URC
• Ospreys v Benetton 9 December 2023, EPCR Challenge Cup