Declan Fitzpatrick, the Ulster tight head prop forward, appeared today before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, following the red card issued to him for striking an opponent in the 11th minute of the Guinness PRO12 match between Zebre and Ulster on Saturday.
Declan Fitzpatrick, the Ulster tight head prop forward, appeared today before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, following the red card issued to him for striking an opponent in the 11th minute of the Guinness PRO12 match between Zebre and Ulster on Saturday.
The Committee, chaired by Simon Thomas, along with Terry Vaux and Robert Williams (all Wales), having viewed TV footage of the incident and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, found that the incident was at the low end of the IRB sanctions for the type of offence, carrying a 2 week sanction. In the absence of any aggravating factors and in light of several compelling mitigating factors, including the player's exemplary previous playing record, the Committee applied a one week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for one week.
Declan Fitzpatrick is free to resume playing from Monday 6 October 2014 and has the right of appeal.
Law 10.4(a): Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist
Declan Fitzpatrick, the Ulster tight head prop forward, appeared today before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, following the red card issued to him for striking an opponent in the 11th minute of the Guinness PRO12 match between Zebre and Ulster on Saturday.
The Committee, chaired by Simon Thomas, along with Terry Vaux and Robert Williams (all Wales), having viewed TV footage of the incident and listened to representations made by and on behalf of the player, found that the incident was at the low end of the IRB sanctions for the type of offence, carrying a 2 week sanction. In the absence of any aggravating factors and in light of several compelling mitigating factors, including the player's exemplary previous playing record, the Committee applied a one week reduction from the entry point and suspended the player from playing for one week.
Declan Fitzpatrick is free to resume playing from Monday 6 October 2014 and has the right of appeal.
Law 10.4(a): Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist