Skelton suspended for dangerous tackle

Tue, Jan 21, 2020, 8:35 PM
AFP
by AFP
Will Skelton has been suspended for a dangerous tackle. Photo: Getty Images
Will Skelton has been suspended for a dangerous tackle. Photo: Getty Images

Saracens Will Skelton has been suspended for four weeks following his red card in the 27-24 win over Racing 92 in their European Champions Cup pool match last Sunday.

The 27-year-old former Australian international second row forward will be available for European champions Saracens tough quarter-final against Ireland's four-time champions Leinster in Dublin in April.

The independent panel upheld Nigel Owens's decision to send off Skelton for a dangerous tackle on Racing 92's Brice Dulin a minute before half-time.

"The Committee upheld the red card decision, finding that Skelton had made contact with Dulin's head in a dangerous manner," read the statement.

"It then determined that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point.

"There were no aggravating factors, and taking into account the player's guilty plea, good disciplinary record and expression of remorse, the Committee reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension."

Saracens showed remarkable resilience -- just a few hours after they had been officially informed they would be relegated from the Premiership for breaching the salary-cap this season -- for despite being a man down and trailing 21-17 at half-time they emerged victorious and scraped into the last eight as one of the three best runners-up.

Share
Further law variations have come into Super Rugby Pacific
Super Rugby Pacific confirms new law innovations for 2026 season
The Australians were no match for a red-hot Black Ferns team in the Singapore Final. Photo: World Rugby
Black Ferns blitz delivers Kiwis title win over Australia in Singapore
The Australia Sevens teams kick off action for 2026 in Singapore. Photo: World Rugby
GAME BY GAME: Women fall to Black Ferns in Singapore Final, Men rebound after tough day one
Test contender's hunt for bounce back as Tahs pump sloppy Reds