Cheetahs Prop Ox Nche handed hefty ban for a dangerous challenge
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The Cheetahs will be without loosehead prop Ox Nche until the Pro14 final after he was given an eight-week suspension for a dangerous challenge.
A disciplinary committee met in Edinburgh to consider the citing complaint against Nche after he appeared to tackle Leinster wing Fergus McFadden down with a no-arms high challenge. Referee Nigel Owens showed Nche a yellow card for the incident.
Ox Nche cited for this, only a yellow at the time.
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) March 5, 2019
Hearing tomorrow, ban coming. pic.twitter.com/0BTUUGYtVQ
A Disciplinary Committee met in Edinburgh (Scotland) to consider the citing complaint against Nche (No 1) of the Toyota Cheetahs which occurred against Leinster Rugby on Friday, March 1, 2019 in which the Player was shown a yellow card for an incident in the ninth minute involving Leinster No 11 (Fergus McFadden).
The player was reported by the Citing Commissioner in charge for alleged infringement of Law 9.12 – A player must not physically abuse anyone and Law 9.25 – A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball.
Please note this was originally notified in the press notice as Law 9.13 and Law 9.25.
The Disciplinary Committee comprising of Sheriff Kathrine Mackie (Chair), Roddy MacLeod and Ian Douglas (All Scotland), concluded that the player had committed an act of foul play involving contact to the head.
In upholding the Citing Complaint, the Disciplinary Committee deemed that the offence merited a red card under Law 9.12 (Striking with the shoulder) and that the contact to the head was intentional with a top-end entry point of 10 weeks.
The Committee took into account the Player’s previously clean disciplinary record and his good conduct and applied 20% mitigation which reduces the ban to eight weeks.
To ensure the eight-week ban accounts for meaningful matches played by the Toyota Cheetahs in the Guinness PRO14 and the Currie Cup the player will be free to play from midnight on Sunday, May 19, 2019.
The Player was reminded of his right to appeal.
"I don't know how that is a shoulder to shoulder.
— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 1, 2019
"Once he's had a look at it, there's only one decision in my mind."
Eddie O'Sullivan and @lukefitz11 have not been impressed by Nigel Owens' refereeing during the first half at the RDS.#LEIvCHE #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/WqeR3W68zN
Photo credit: Morgan Piek
