Hazell: Lengthy suspension
Gloucester flank Andy Hazell has been suspended for 14 weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in Dublin.
The former England star aim several punches at the prop as he lay on the floor and also launched a knee in an ugly incident that earned him a red card.
Independent judicial officer Roger Morris ran the rule over Hazell's behaviour during a hearing in Dublin today, and saw little option but to impose a hefty punishment.
"The judicial officer (Morris) determined that Hazell had intentionally struck Ormaechea with both the fist and the knee," an ERC statement said.
"Having also determined that any suspensions he would impose for the offences would run concurrently, and as striking with the knee carries greater penalties than striking with the fist under the IRB recommended sanctions for offences committed within the playing enclosure, the judicial officer decided on a top-end entry point of 16 weeks.
"Taking into account aggravating factors, he added a further two weeks given Hazell's disciplinary record and his failure to uphold the image of the game.
"Then following consideration of Hazell's guilty plea and his exemplary conduct during the hearing, the judicial officer deducted four weeks before imposing a suspension of 14 weeks.
"Hazell will be free to play on Monday, 21 January 2013. Both ERC and the player have the right to appeal the decision."
Cherry and Whites officials claimed in the immediate aftermath of the hard-fought 11-6 victory that Hazell had been reacting in provocation to an earlier eye-gouging incident.
Comments
rockman says...
@ Propmelsey
you absolute Neanderthal, there is no place in rugby for this and Hazell should definitely not be applauded for his vicious actions
Posted 14:43 26th October 2012
Propmelsey says...
And worth every minute!! Well done Andy ..... quality viewing :) ...... disappointed in the french prop though... just lying there playing dead :( .... i bet he was a tighthead .....
Posted 09:10 26th October 2012
kinsman says...
There is no way his defence of gouging could ever be accepted considering there was no conclusive proof of it and no citing for it.
If that had been taken into account and sentence reduced, every future judiciary hearing would have had the defendant claiming he'd been gouged.
At least the punishment here was reasonable for the offence committed and there was no ridiculous mitigating factor like, 'the opposition player wasn't injured.' or 'he shook my hand after the match'
Posted 06:22 26th October 2012
sanka69 says...
Thought there wa sgoing to be citings for gouging after this match - presumably nothing ever came of those? Sufficient punishment really, although on e of ym favourite Glos players for quite some time, cant knee a downed opponent and hope for anything less, despite the provocation that I have no doubt occured! Come back raring to go in Jan and push us into the play offs Andy!!!
Posted 15:45 25th October 2012
sirtidychris says...
A nice long christmas rest in the gym before returning for the new year, what he did was ugly and wrong but i would have done the same if people stuck there fingers in my eyes 3 times. Just cause the t.v's didn't catch it doesn't mean it didn't happen, and heck the t.vs did catch it with rougerie but still didn't do anything !
Posted 15:32 25th October 2012
melkdave says...
14 weeks my that is a bit harsh imo,considering he cliamed he was eye gourged.Not that he doesnt deserve a ban ,but 14 weeks OUCH.Also it does put in perspective the limp wristed SANZAR bans recently handed outie Higginbottom getting just 4 weeks for a premediated attack on R.McCaw ,where he kneed him in the head then headbutted him .The SH authorities really should start getting its house in order imo.
Posted 15:30 25th October 2012
rockman says...
Tough one this. No player ever lashes out so heavily and hot headedly without being provoked. I don't condone what Hazell did but if i was gouged i'd probably do the same. Its human nature to protect yourself when attacked. Unfortunately Gloucester couldn't prove that he was gouged! Having said that though Gloucester have to expect a bit of Thuggery within their ranks considering who they choose as club captain this season.
Posted 15:26 25th October 2012
APV1 says...
And only 4 for Higginbotham.
I know Hazell's actions were worse and he deserves a lengthy ban, but when will there be some consistency?
Posted 13:50 25th October 2012