Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Shock as Castres hooker gets away with lenient ban for heinous clear-out

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Castres hooker Marc-Antoine Rallier can consider himself a very lucky player after only coming away with a three-week ban for a heinous clear-out on Racing 92’s Antonie Claassen. 

ADVERTISEMENT

In the most recent round of Top 14 action, the 31-year-old saw red for a hit that was simply despicable in the modern game and No8 Claassen was fortunate he did not suffer a serious injury. 

The disciplinary commission handed Rallier the ban on Wednesday, which is extraordinarily short given how reckless the collision was. 

Not only was this a shoulder charge, as the hooker clearly made no attempt to wrap his arms, but it was to the back of his opponent’s head and neck. Claassen had no opportunity to brace himself after making the tackle, as he was blindsided by Rallier. 

This was the offence, as shared by Tom May on Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/TreftonTrefton/status/1225549231248826368

While there have been complaints in recent times about how frivolously referees hand out cards, this was inexcusable and a three-week suspension is very lenient from the Ligue Nationale de Rugby. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The point of banning a player is partly to punish them, but also to serve as a deterrent to other players doing the same in future. 

A three-week ban does not correlate to how dangerous Rallier’s challenge was. French rugby, who this week handed centre Geoffrey Doumayrou a five-week suspended ban and a €1,000 fine feigning injury, must surely have to look into making bans for tackles like Rallier’s more severe in future. 

WATCH: Nick Tompkins can’t wait to start for Wales against Ireland

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

I feel like he'd be too happy to select people from overseas and tank the ABs as a result. I mean you gotta do it to find out, but nah, I certainly don't have enough confidence in him to give him that sort of freedom.

smith 100% plays 9 and mounga 100% plays 10

Haha yep you sound like a Razor clone, run his players into the ground without developing the next gen and tanking 2027 WC as a result.


Yes, AJ Lam was that player this year.


That's when DMac is also the biggest liability. Forced to be the playmaker is the best way he can contribute being such a tiny bloke.


That was actually one of the reasons I liked the older age bracket, it attracts the youth and also gives them somewhere to go after hs, something to capitilize on, as currently it all just dies out without an immediate or obvious step. It helps to remove a bit of the seriousness as well, which can be misplaced at that age. Sure it might be older kids that look upto it but I wouldn't change hs footy at all. Agreed though, its about the only place left with that sort of tribalism so you wouldn't want to destroy it. As there wouldn't be more than a dozen university teams hs should definitely still have cause to retain it's high following.


Haha it would certainly be cool being in that particular environment with some influence. I had a mate who worked there and said it wasn't great, but that was under the guy that got kicked out. University rugby is that stepping stone you're after 😉 thank me once you're able to pay for my time and expertise!

90 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Defence has become an afterthought in the Premiership - and England may fall upwards as a result' 'Defence has become an afterthought in the Premiership - and England may fall upwards as a result'
Search