Western Force accepts Marley Pearce suspension

The Western Force accepts the four-game suspension handed to Marley Pearce for foul play. After consultation with legal counsel and the player, the Club opted against an appeal.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) has found Marley Pearce of Western Force guilty of contravening Law 9.13 "A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously", after Pearce was cited following a Super Rugby Pacific Match last weekend.

Pearce has been suspended from all forms of the game up to and including 23 March 2024.

The incident occurred in the 51st minute of the match between the Western Force and Hurricanes played at HBF Stadium in Perth on 23 February 2024.

The Foul Play Review Committee comprised of Stephen Hardy (Chairperson), Ofisa Tonu’u and Stefan Terblanche assessed the case.

In his finding, the FPRC Chairperson Stephen Hardy ruled as follows:

"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, Michael Tudori, the Foul Play Review Committee upheld the citing under Law 9.13."

"Following the World Rugby Head Contact Process, the FPRC assessed the Player's actions as including direct head contact, at high speed, in dynamic play with the player leading with his head and colliding with a high degree of force, and his body position moving up and forward into the collision.  There was no mitigation identified sufficient to downgrade the offence below a red card.”

"The entry point for the offence was 6 weeks (as it was assessed as mid range in line with World Rugby’s mandate).  The player was given a discount for an early guilty plea reducing the suspension from 6 weeks to 4 weeks.  The player is therefore suspended up to and including 23 March 2024.”