Sanctions for head contact in rugby have been a giant speaking level over the previous few years and this week noticed one other incident which has provoked debate.
It occurred through the televised Welsh Premiership conflict between Swansea and Llandovery at St Helen’s.
With half an hour on the clock, former Ospreys winger Hanno Dirksen, taking part in within the centre for the All Whites, picked up from a ruck and carried ahead.
As he went to floor in a collision with Llandovery flanker Griff Evans, the referee blew up and swiftly delivered his determination.
Talking to Evans, he stated: “He’s slipping fairly clearly. You’ve made contact with the top. As a result of it’s a sudden change of momentum, it’s not going to be a purple, it’s a yellow card.”
Evans could possibly be seen shaking his head as he left the sector and the sin-binning did appear considerably questionable as Dirksen had slipped and fallen on to the leg of the Llandovery participant.
The incident was then picked up by former Welsh worldwide fly-half Lee Jarvis, who took to Twitter to remark.
He stated: “Swansea participant slipped to his knees and Llandovery participant will get a yellow card for top sort out. Actually?
“The Llandovery participant set his top for the sort out early after which inside a cut up second that top modified due to the Swansea participant slipping.
“That absolutely must be unintentional with no intent in any way and no yellow card in my view.
“I’m positive the ref would put his hand up after that one and say he acquired it that one mistaken.”
Lengthy-serving referee Ian Davies added his ideas, saying: “I might say the tackler is clearly seeking to make a professional sort out, so unsure what extra he is ready to do.
“I believe everybody agrees we have to remove ‘illegitimate’ contact to the top – however we additionally must acknowledge that any contact with the top shouldn’t robotically imply foul play.”
Former Wales flanker Jamie Ringer chimed in to say: “Mainly penalised the tackler for doing the whole lot accurately.”
Others commented strongly, utilizing phrases like “farcical”, “stunning” “horrible” and “joke”.
However podcast star Mike Bubbins took a unique view.
He stated: “I really feel unhealthy for the Llandovery flanker, he couldn’t have gotten a lot decrease, however there was contact with the top. The mitigation of the slip brings it right down to a yellow.
“It’s harsh, however it’s right. The sport has to get safer. I’d reasonably barely too many playing cards proven, than not sufficient.
“I agree the Llandovery boy had zero intent to make head contact, however seems like World Rugby are attempting to take the ‘unintentional’ determination away from refs to take away confusion.
“Head contact begins with purple, can get decreased to yellow. Generally that’s going to be very harsh. Like right here.”
As for the match itself on Thursday night, that led to a 25-20 victory for Llandovery, taking them as much as sixth within the Premiership desk.
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