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England prop Sinckler cops lengthy ban for 'gouge'

By Jack Davies
Harlequins’ Kyle Sinckler (r).

England and Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler has been banned for seven weeks following allegations of eye gouging were made against him during a Premiership clash with Northampton Saints.

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Michael Paterson claimed the 24-year-old made contact with his eye in the 49th minute of a 30-22 victory for Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

After being cited on Sunday, Sinckler, who accepted the charge of contact with the eye, will now serve a suspension that rules him out of November internationals against Argentina and Australia, as well as Quins’ opening two Champions Cup fixtures against La Rochelle and Wasps.

“The panel heard evidence from the player as to his actions,” said RFU disciplinary panel chairman Dan White. “They found that it was an intentional action but that due to the absence of injury it merited a low end entry point.

“The player has not got a clear record because of a suspension in 2015 and so the panel could not give full mitigation.

“The player will therefore be suspended for seven weeks and is free to play again on the 21 November 2017.”

Sinckler played in all three Tests on the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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