November 29th 2011
RFU Disciplinary Hearing for Nathan Hannay of Jersey RFC
Second row forward Nathan Hannay appeared before an RFU
disciplinary panel yesterday (Monday November 28th) in
connection with the red card he received in the game against
Cambridge on November 12th.
The hearing was conducted by conference call with an RFU panel
in England, and the Jersey player was joined by JRFC Chairman Bill
Dempsey, Head Coach Ben Harvey and Cliff Chipperfield, Chairman of
the Jersey Rugby Club Disciplinary Panel.
Nathan pleaded guilty to a charge of striking an opponent
[contrary to Law 10(4)(a)] arising from the incident, however
several mitigating factors were cited by JRFC, with the panel asked
to take these issues into account in reaching their decision.
The panel ruled that the offence was classified as 'lower end'
under RFU guidelines, and having considered all the evidence,
Nathan was given a ban of two weeks. Having already served a
one-week club ban from November 14th - 21st,
his second week's suspension will run from November 28th
to December 5th, ruling him out of the Jersey v Coventry
game on Saturday December 3rd.
"There were a considerable number of mitigating factors," states
Bill Dempsey. "These included Nathan's previous good disciplinary
record, a considerable element of provocation, the fact that the
Cambridge player involved was not hurt and resumed playing after
spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin, and that he subsequently
accepted an apology from Nathan in relation to what happened.
"Although we felt there was a case to say these factors meant a
week's ban was sufficient, hence the halving of the original
'in-house' suspension imposed by JRFC earlier this month, we are
nevertheless pleased that all the circumstances have been taken
into account, and we are content that the disciplinary process has
run its course, with Nathan being available to play again in our
final two matches before Christmas."
