Controversial ban for viral tackle from the dark ages
Reds lock Angus Blyth’s tackle on the Brumbies’ Corey Toole was horrific on Friday, there is no other way to describe it.
The 120kg forward made contact with the head of the winger 35kg lighter than him in the most brutal and illegal way possible, and the scenes after of Toole stumbling back and forward were equally distressing. What was even crazier was that Blyth only received a yellow card, which caused quite a stir online. It may have been an attempted charge down, but the end result was a tackle that literally every professional rugby player knows is highly illegal.
Take a look at the tackle:
Nasty hit on Toole 🤯
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Well the subsequent ban might raise a few eyebrows as well, as a tackle like that one only resulted in a three week ban. Initially a six week ban, the 25-year-old had his ban slashed in half by the Foul Play Review Committee due to his clean disciplinary record.
Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron KC ruled the following: “Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including submissions from the player and his legal representative, Mark Martin KC, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.13.”
“With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee considered the act of foul play was reckless, direct head contact was made and with high force. The Committee found it was not deliberate and after considering all relevant factors decided the foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks. However, taking into account mitigating factors including the Player’s clean judicial record and his acceptance of guilt at the first available opportunity, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.”
“The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including 6 May 2023.”
Blyth won’t be able to play against Moana Pasifika in Samoa on Friday, as well as missing the games against Western Force in Brisbane and NSW Waratahs in Townsville.
