Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea has been suspended after his throat-slitting gesture to Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Ryan Louwrens during Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific clash.
Savea has been banned for one week for an accumulation of his actions during the match and will now miss the clash with the Blues this weekend.
The incident
Shortly before half-time, Savea was yellow carded after his involvement in a scuffle after the whistle.
While leaving the pitch, the number eight got caught up in an argument with Louwrens before making the throat-slitting gesture towards the Rebels number nine.
🌪️ This isn't great from Ardie Savea. #SuperRugbyPacific #REBvHUR pic.twitter.com/VqSCWElJeK
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 3, 2023
‘Did not breach the red card threshold’
Following the match, Savea was cited under Law 9.27, which states, ‘A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.’
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While the citing commissioner ruled that Savea’s actions met the red card threshold, the SANZAAR Judicial Committee did not agree.
In a statement released by the organising body of Super Rugby Pacific, Judicial Committee Chairman Nigel Hampton KC ruled the following: “Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Judicial Committee found the foul play did not breach the red card threshold.”
“With respect to sanction, the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a warning as it was close to, but did not breach, the red card threshold.
The second hearing
However, the Judicial Committee did issue Savea with a warning. Because the back-row had been yellow-carded in the same match, his warning essentially upgraded his yellow card to a red card.
SANZAAR Disciplinary Rule 6.1 states: ‘If a Player has received two Warnings or a combination of a Warning and a yellow card during a Match, he shall be treated for disciplinary purposes as if he had been sent off.’
This meant that the player had to reappear before the Committee members.
Nigel Hampton KC’s findings of the second hearing are as follows: “The Foul Play Review Committee conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, and oral submissions from his legal representative, Mr Aaron Lloyd.
“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee ruled, after considering a number of factors, including the guidance of World Rugby Regulation 17 Appendix 4, and due to the nature of the player’s persistent offending, with both the yellow card and the warning being issued for unsportsmanlike play, that an appropriate sanction for the player would be a suspension of one week.”
Savea will now miss the Hurricanes’ clash against the Blues but will be available for the following weekend’s game against the Waratahs.