\"It was an obvious accident and I will pay a heavy price\": Hodge responds to judiciary decision as Wallabies opt against appealing ban

Sat, Sep 28, 2019, 6:53 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Reece Hodge will miss the Wallabies' final pool matches. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

UPDATE: Wallabies winger Reece Hodge says he is "paying a "heavy price" for an "obvious accident" in a statement released after news Australia wouldn't appeal his three-match ban.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika confirmed on Saturday that Australia wold not appeal the ban, for fear of coming out of an appeals hearing with a more severe suspension.

Hodge was handed a three-week ban for his tackle on Fijian flanker Peceli Yato, after facing a judiciary hearing in Tokyo on Wednesday night, and Australia had until Saturday evening to decide whether to appeal.

Cheika made the rare step on Friday of opening his press conference with a statement hitting back at criticism of Hodge, who the panel wrote in their decision had “no effective knowledge” of the high tackle framework.

Hodge posted to Instagram on Saturday afternoon in his first statement since the decision was handed down, saying he was "disappointed in the decision" but there was "no malice" in the tackle and released a further statement about criticism of his perceived lack of knowledge of World Rugby's framework.

Just want to thank everyone for the messages of support over the past few days. I’m extremely disappointed by the decision and gutted I won’t be able to don the gold jersey and represent Australia with the boys on Sunday. Now that the decision has been made, I’ll be doing everything I can to help prepare the boys for the next 3 games. It’s a privilege to be here in Japan and to experience the World Cup buzz with such wonderful hospitality from the Japanese people. Peceli, I hope you’re recovering well from the incident and wish you all the best for the rest of the tournament. There was never any malice in the contact and any suggestions to that effect are simply false. Anyone who knows me will attest to that. Lastly, to the media and fans, please start focusing on all the positive stories at this RWC. The players are giving their all for their country, the fans are packing out the stadiums and the officials are making it all possible. ✌🏼😄

A post shared by Reece Hodge (@reecehodge) on

 

"In regards to the posts and comments slamming Rugby Australia, the coaching staff and even my own so-called ignorance for not having studied the “high tackle decision making framework”, let me posit this," he said in a statement.

"As rugby players, we are aware that contact to the head in a tackle is detrimental to the safety of our opposition and will be met with some form of sanction. Subsequently, we are coached to tackle below shoulder height. We never intend to make contact with the head or neck and I never want to hurt anyone.

"We have a lot of micro decisions to make in a rugby game, from positioning in defence to running lines in attack and these are often made instantaneously.

"From my point of view, the high tackle decision-making framework was designed for administrators, and actually has little to no bearing on my decision-making on the field when approaching contact. We do lots of “homework” as Rugby players and are constantly adapting to changes in the game.

"Those that have played rugby would know that we don’t think about the numbered elements of a decision-making tree for referees and TMOs in the split second before a tackle. The way I read it, it’s a tool used to determine the appropriate sanctions after the contact has occurred."

Hodge said media articles suggesting he didn't know about new tackling techniques were an "utter fabrication".

"Numerous articles suggesting I admitted to not knowing the “new tackle techniques” are an utter fabrication. During the judiciary hearing, I was asked of my knowledge of the framework specifically, not of any “new tackling techniques” or whether I knew tackling high was going to be penalised. 

"With that said, it was an obvious accident and I will pay a heavy price. The only sort of disciplinary action I’ve ever had was a yellow card for a ‘deliberate knockdown’ so it feels really weird to be on the sidelines but I will be doing all I can to help the team prepare for Wales and for the rest of the pool stage."

Hodge was the first of a handful of players to front the judiciary this week on a dangerous tackle charge.

Samoan duo Rey Lee-Lo and Mato Matu’u and USA’s John Quill all copped three-week suspensions while England centre Piers Francis has also been cited.

The penalties come after referees boss Alain Rolland warned high tackles would be cracked down on at the World Cup, and in the same week that World Rugby issued a statement where officials admitted they had been sub-par in the opening weekend.

Cheika said part of Australia’s concern when it came to debating an appeal  was whether returning to the judiciary might actually extend Hodge’s punishment.

“What's the legal term? We deliberated, yes, with our QC and several other legal minds around Australia and we've come to the conclusion that we won't be appealing,” Cheika said at the team’s captain’s run press conference.

“If they can't see that tackle doesn't meet the red card threshold on first view, I worry a little bit about going back there and getting more, just a bit of a show of force, I suppose. 

“After speaking with Reece, we decided not to do it.”

Hodge is unable to be replaced in the World Cup squad under World Rugby laws, leaving them a man down for the next three weeks.

Their numbers had already been depleted in the backs with Tevita Kuridrani and Jordan Petaia both carrying hamstring injuries into the tournament.

Kuridrani was fit to play last week, though he missed selection,  while Petaia was pencilled in for week three against Uruguay.

With Hodge missing, had Petaia’s progress stagnated Cheika might have been forced to make a tough call on his teenage centre but the Wallabies coach said Petaia would be available to potentially make his Test debut in Oita in a week’s time.

“Jordan is due to be back next week,” he said.

“He trained fully yesterday and he had another good hit-out today so we expect him to be ready to play next week, which will be great, without giving it away too early but he’ll be available for sure.”

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