The London Irish hooker, Agustin Creevy, has been suspended for four weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 1 match against Montpellier Hérault Rugby at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Creevy was sent off by the referee, Andrea Piardi (Italy), in the 33rd minute of the match for tackling the Montpellier Hérault Rugby full back, Anthony Bouthier, in a dangerous manner in contravention of Law 9.13.
Law 9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent dangerously
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 relating to dangerous tackling carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks.
An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), Chair, Bogdan Zebega (Romania) and Tembelani Herbert Mayosi (South Africa) considered video imagery of the incident and heard submissions from Creevy, who accepted he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept the red card decision, from the player’s legal representative, Tomas McGarvey, from the London Irish Team Manager, Alex James, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that in executing the tackle in a dangerous manner, Creevy had made contact with Bouthier’s head. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Due to the player’s poor recent disciplinary record, it was decided not to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.
As London Irish have a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture on Wednesday, 4 January 2023, Creevy is free to play on Thursday, 5 January 2023, however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 2 January 2023.
Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
