'Out of order' attack on Henry Pollock results in ban

Bordeaux Begles prop Jefferson Poirot has been banned for two weeks after grabbing the throat of Northampton Saints back-row Henry Pollock after the final whistle of the Investec Champions Cup final as the Top 14 outfit won their maiden title.

The France and England internationals were involved in a fracas shortly after Nika Amashukeli blew his whistle at the Principality Stadium, which Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson branded “out of order”.

The 32-year-old was subsequently cited and charged with contravening Law 9.27 – A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.

An independent Disciplinary Committee comprising Simon Thomas (Wales, Chair), Marcello D’Orey (Portugal) and Val Toma (Romania) heard the case by video conference on Thursday May 29, where Poirot accepted that he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card.

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The committee determined the act met the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions, which carries a four-week ban.

However, due to the prop’s guilty plea, good disciplinary record and full co-operation with the disciplinary process, the ban was halved, meaning he is free to play again on Monday June 9.

Saints and England fly-half Fin Smith said after the match: “They were after him (Pollock). I don’t think they liked him. He will be alright.

“I remember they (Bordeaux players) all sort of charged at him and were trying to get hold of him.

“I am surprised if you have just won a European Cup, the first thing you want to do is start a fight with a 20-year-old. I felt that was interesting.”

Saints skipper Fraser Dingwall added: “I don’t think there was bad blood (in the game).

“The only thing that I questioned at times was how much can we constantly have the values of the game applied on things like appealing.

“I think there were a couple of moments where boys potentially didn’t adhere to those things, and that is going to spark a reaction.”