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The 'hug tackle' testimony Maro Itoje gave at disciplinary hearing
Saracens’ Maro Itoje has described his yellow-carded collision last Friday with Bath’s Alfie Barbeary as a “hug tackle”. The England second row was sin-binned by referee Luke Pearce at the time, but he was later cited and had to attend a disciplinary hearing last Tuesday.
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A ban would have ruled him out of his club’s remaining Gallagher Premiership regular season games versus Bristol and Sale. However, the case against him was dismissed, clearing him to play on with immediate effect. He will now be available for selection on May 11 when the defending champions visit Ashton Gate.
It was Wednesday at 11am when a brief RFU statement revealed that no further action would be taken against Itoje. The written verdict from the hearing wasn’t available when the decision was made public, but the RFU have since added the 10-page document to its website disciplinary section.
In it, the evidence that Itoje provided to the committee consisting of Philip Evans (chair), Becky Essex, and Martyn Wood was summarised on page four. “The player gave evidence and said he now has in the region of 300 appearances in professional games, including 81 England caps.
“He recollected the incident in question coming from a set-piece and that the Bath player was involved in a carry and his intention was to prevent him attacking with the ball.
"In all of the circumstances, the panel did not conclude that a high degree of danger was created…"
– Why a discplinary hearing stood by last Friday's decision by referee Luke Pearce to only yellow card Maro Itoje at Bath. #EnglandRugby #GallagherPrem #Saracens #rugby pic.twitter.com/YbO9eEsz3S
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 1, 2024
“As he approached contact, he said that he did not feel out of control. He conceded that he approached the contact too high but there was no element of danger of head loss. He was too upright. He did not dip through his hips sufficiently, misjudged the pivot and in the end, the tackle was not textbook.
“He described the tackle as a ‘hug tackle’. He recalled making contact with the Bath player’s body and said that he made an attempt to wrap in the tackle. He said he did not feel or have any concern that he had made contact with the head. He told the panel that so strong was his conviction that he did not realise there was or feel any head contact, that he would swear that was true.”
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The panel was also provided with some messages written by Barbeary. They included: “Just felt contact neck and head as I got hit, didn’t feel like loads of force. Mainly through neck.”
In its findings of fact, the panel concluded that the totality of the footage viewed demonstrated that it was more likely than not that the contact was not initially with the head and was not simultaneous contact with the head and the body.
“Instead, we conclude it is more likely than not that contact with the head comes later and that is properly described as more glancing contact than direct on nature. We did not see any features such as a jolting movement of the Bath player’s head-on contact.
“The panel was informed that neither player was injured as a result of this incident. We were also informed that neither player underwent any head injury assessment.
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“This panel notes that it may have provided useful information, although only as part of the overall assessment, if both players had been subject to a compulsory HIA and the results made available to the panel.”
Itoje had never been red-carded in his long career with Saracens, England, and the British and Irish Lions, and during last Friday’s game referee Pearce quickly decided that the tackle by the forward was only a yellow card offence.
Speaking to his TMO, the referee was heard on live TV saying: “It is head-on-head contact. It is foul play because 4 is upright. It’s not a flush… It’s off his shoulder and then a bit of contact with his head so it’s high danger, mitigation, yellow… it’s not flush, that’s why it’s yellow.”
- Click here to read the 10-page written verdict from the Maro Itoje disciplinary hearing
Comments on RugbyPass
Surely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
12 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
12 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game. I’d start Jordan with his brother Jaden. Masuku and Nohamba off the bench.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to comments