Jersey's Nicky Griffiths receives four-week
ban
Jersey scrum-half Nicky Griffiths will miss the climax of the
club's season after receiving a four-week ban for a so-called
tip-tackle.
Griffiths faced an RFU disciplinary hearing yesterday (Tuesday
April 17th) following the incident in Jersey's match against
Tynedale on March 31st. The Welsh international sevens player
received a red card for the tackle on Tyne's Sam Shires in the 69th
minute of the National One game.
The club had hoped that the red card might be deemed sufficient
punishment, but with the International Rugby Board looking to take
punitive action against dangerous tackles, the panel ruled that a
ban should be imposed.
In the light of the offence covered by law 10 (4) j, the panel
determined that Griffiths' act was a 'mid-range' offence, earning a
ban of six weeks which was reduced to four in the light of his
previous good disciplinary record, the remorse shown and the
absence of any pre-meditation.
The ban will cover Jersey's final two National One league games
against Coventry and Fylde, plus the IRB Sevens tournaments in
Glasgow and London on the first two weekends of May.
Although Griffiths had the right of appeal, the decision has
been made not to pursue this option.
"This is a disappointing outcome for an incident which was not
malicious, did not cause injury and for which Nicky immediately
apologised," said a spokesman for JRFC. "But the current climate in
rugby has put this type of offence in the spotlight, and as a
result he has been banned, a verdict that we have decided we must
reluctantly accept.
"Nicky has been unfortunate to miss a number of games this
season through injury and now suspension but he has nevertheless
been a valued member of the squad and helped us secure a number of
important wins."
