U20 Trophy 2015: Disciplinary

The following players have attended disciplinary hearings during the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2015 in Portugal.

Red card: Felipe Etcheverry (Uruguay #10) – Striking (Law 10.4(a)) – One week suspension

Uruguay fly-half Felipe Ectheverry was ordered off by referee Paulo Duarte (Portugal) for striking Georgian hooker Badri Alkhanazashvili in Uruguay’s match against Georgia on 12 May, 2015. The player appeared at a hearing in Lisbon before Judicial Officer Jean-Noël Couraud (France) on 13 May.

Etcheverry attempted to challenge the referee’s decision to issue the red card. After hearing evidence from the referee and reviewing the video and the other evidence the Judicial Officer upheld the red card. He then went on to consider sanction. He classified the offending as low-end which carries a two- week starting point in the sanction table.  

There were no aggravating factors and certain mitigating factors including the player’s previously clean record, good character, conduct at the hearing, remorse and apology to his opponent. The Judicial Officer reduced the sanction to one week.  

In the context of the tournament this means the player can return to play on match day three (20 May).  

The player has 48 hours from receipt of the written decision to appeal. 

Click here for the written decision.

Red card: Badri Alkhanazashvili (Georgia #2) – Striking (Law 10.4(a)) – One week suspension

Georgia captain Badri Alkhanazashvili was ordered off by referee Duarte for striking Etcheverry and also appeared before Judicial Officer Couraud on 13 May, 2015 in Lisbon.

The player attempted to challenge the referee’s decision to issue the red card. After hearing from the referee and reviewing the video and other evidence the Judicial Officer upheld the red card. He then went on to consider sanction. He classified the offending as low-end which carries a two-week starting point in the sanction table.

There were no aggravating factors and certain mitigating factors including the player’s previously clean record, good character, conduct at the hearing, remorse and apology to his opponent. The Judicial Officer reduced the sanction to one week.

In the context of the tournament this means the player can return to play on match day three (20 May).

The player has 48 hours from receipt of the written decision to appeal. 

Click here for the written decision.

Citing: Lorenzo Surraco (Uruguay #18) – Striking (Law 10.4(a)) – Five week suspension (no further participation in tournament)

Uruguay substitute second-row Lorenzo Surraco was cited by Citing Commissioner Maurizio Vancini (Italy) for striking Georgia reserve Beka Kakabadze. Surraco appeared before Judicial Officer Couraud on 13 May, 2015 in Lisbon.  

The player accepted that he had committed foul play in striking Kakabadze on five occasions. The Judicial Officer considered this top-end offending with an entry point of eight weeks.  

There were no aggravating factors and certain mitigating factors including the player’s acceptance of the citing, his previously clean record, good character, conduct at the hearing and remorse. The Judicial Officer reduced the sanction to five matches.  

The player is suspended for Uruguay’s remaining three games at the tournament and his next two club matches in Uruguay. He is free to play again from 14 June, 2015.  

The player has 48 hours from receipt of the written decision to appeal. 

Click here for the written decision.

Citing: Ioseb Kikvadze (Georgia #11) – Striking (Law 10.4(a)) – Three week suspension (no further participation in tournament)

Georgia wing Ioseb Kikvadze was cited by Citing Commissioner Maurizio Vancini (Italy) for striking Uruguay captain Facundo Klappenbach. Kikvadze appeared before Judicial Officer Couraud on 13 May, 2015 in Lisbon.  

The player accepted that he had committed foul play. The Judicial Officer considered this mid-range offending which carries an entry point of five weeks.  

There were no aggravating factors and certain mitigating factors including the player’s acceptance of the citing, his previously clean record, good character, conduct at the hearing and remorse. The Judicial Officer reduced the sanction to three matches.  

The player is suspended for Georgia’s remaining three games at the tournament and is free to play again from 25 May, 2015.  

The player has 48 hours from receipt of the written decision to appeal. 

Click here for the written decision.

Citing: Diego Ardao (Uruguay #6) – Striking (Law 10.4(a)) – Three week suspension (no further participation in tournament)

Uruguay flanker Diego Ardao was cited by Citing Commissioner Maurizio Vancini (Italy) for striking Georgia prop Nika Neparidze. Ardao appeared before Judicial Officer Couraud on 13 May, 2015 in Lisbon.  

The player accepted that he had committed foul play. The Judicial Officer considered this mid-range offending which carries an entry point of five weeks.  

There were no aggravating factors and certain mitigating factors including the player’s acceptance of the citing, his previously clean record, good character, conduct at the hearing and remorse. The Judicial Officer reduced the sanction to three matches.

The player is suspended for Uruguay’s remaining three games at the tournament and is free to play again from 25 May, 2015.  

The player has 48 hours from receipt of the written decision to appeal. 

Click here for the written decision.

In addition a Citing Commissioner Warning was issued to Uruguay’s number 11 Juan Pablo Risso for kicking Georgia’s scrum-half Davit Papavadze. If a player receives any combination of three citing commissioner warnings or yellow cards in the tournament he will be required to appear at a judicial hearing.