Sam Gilbert suspended

Foul Play Review Committee: Michael Heron QC (Chair), John Langford and Stefan Terblanche
Player: Sam Gilbert
Team: Highlanders
Position: Fly-half
Date of Incident: 22 May 2022
Nature of Offence: Law 9.18: A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground
Elapsed time in match when offence occurred: 28th minute

SANZAAR NEWS RELEASE

Sam Gilbert suspended for 5 weeks

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has accepted a guilty plea from Sam Gilbert of the Highlanders for contravening Law 9.18: A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Pacific Match at the Weekend.

Gilbert has been suspended from all forms of the game for 5 weeks, up to and including 25 June 2022.

The incident occurred in the 28th minute of the match between the Highlanders and Waratahs played at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on 22 May 2022.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Michael Heron QC (Chair), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chairman Michael Heron QC ruled the following: 

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the Red Card under Law 9.18." 
 
"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a mid-range entry point of 10 weeks due to a combination of features including the degree of recklessness exhibited and the danger posed to the tackled player.  Taking into account mitigating factors including the Player's clean judicial record, his acceptance of foul play, the Foul Play Review Committee reduced the suspension to 5 weeks."

"The player is therefore suspended for 5 weeks, up to and including 25 June 2022.”

All SANZAAR disciplinary matters are in the first instance referred to the Foul Play Review Committee to provide the option of expediting the judicial process.

For a matter to be dispensed with at this hearing, the person appearing must plead guilty and accept the penalty offered by the Foul Play Review Committee.