Arnold suspended for three weeks, out of first June Test

Sun, May 20, 2018, 12:00 PM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Rory Arnold has been suspended for three weeks. Photo: Getty Images
Rory Arnold has been suspended for three weeks. Photo: Getty Images

Rory Arnold won't be pulling on the gold jersey come June 9, suspended for three weeks following his high shot on Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies.

ACT were on their way to an upset in Johannesburg when Arnold hit Jantjies with a high swinging arm in the 60th minute, a tackle which saw him sent for an early shower by referee Nick Briant.

Arnold was subsequently charged with contravening Law 9.13, which states "a player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerous".

He pleaded guilty and was handed a three week plea, reduced from the midrange entry point of six weeks by SANZAAR's foul play review committee.


"With respect to sanction the foul play review committee deemed the act of foul play, a dangerous high tackle, merited a mid-range entry point of 6 weeks," Nigel Hampton QC said.

"However, taking into account mitigating factors including the player's excellent, clear, disciplinary record, his expressed remorse and his guilty plea at the first available opportunity, the foul play review committee reduced the suspension to 3 weeks.

"The player is therefore suspended for 3 weeks, up to and including the Saturday 9 June 2018."

The suspension will eliminate Arnold from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika's calculations for the first Test against Ireland, which is at Suncorp Stadium on June 9.

Share
Force 'heart and soul' Pomare set to reach rare Super W milestone
Michael Hooper is excited about the challenge of playing Sevens in Hong Kong. Photo: Nick Holland/RA Media
'Rookie' ex-Wallabies skipper Hooper ready to step up Sevens unknown
'Brumbies DNA': Wallabies selections on the line for Reds clash - Larkham
'It's pretty hard to leave an environment like this': Jorgensen eager to commit future to Waratahs