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Ruaridh Jackson phonecall saves Alex Lozowski's November Tests
Alex Lozowski has learned his fate after facing two charges of foul play from Saracens Heineken Champions Cup win against Glasgow last Sunday.
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The 25-year-old England centre appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee hearing in London on Tuesday evening after being accused of entering a ruck dangerously in the 15th minute and for a dangerous tackle on Glasgow Warriors full back, Ruaridh Jackson, in the 33rd minute. The charges were made by match Citing Commissioner, Tim Lowry.
Both offences carried a minimum two-week ban if he’d been found guilty.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of David Martin (Ireland), Chair, Roger Morris (Wales) and Val Toma (Romania), heard evidence from Lozowski, who pleaded not guilty to the offences, and also heard evidence and submissions from the player’s legal representative, Sam Jones, the Saracens Director of Rugby, Mark McCall, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.
The Saracens Team Manager, Warrick Lang, was also present.
In respect of the citing complaint concerning the alleged dangerous tackle, the Committee heard additional evidence by phone from Ruaridh Jackson and subsequently decided to dismiss the complaint on the basis that Lozowski had not committed an act of foul play.
In respect of the citing complaint concerning the incident at the ruck, the Committee upheld the complaint as it determined that Lozowski had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card. It found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and two weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Despite the fact that there were some mitigating factors, the Committee decided that in the absence of a guilty plea it could not reduce the sanction and a two-week suspension was imposed.
Lozowski is therefore free to play on Monday, 29 October. Both he and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.
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Lozowski wasn’t the only one cited from the weekend’s action former All Black Jerome Kaino could also face a ban for his tackle on Welsh centre Jamie Roberts in Toulouse’s 22-20 win over Bath. His hearing won’t be heard until Wednesday in Paris.
Kaino hit Roberts with his shoulder in the 39th minute and shown a yellow card by referee, Andrew Brace (Ireland), following the incident.
The minimum punishment is two weeks, with a mid-range offence being six weeks. His hearing will take place on Wednesday.
Kaino’s Toulouse team mate Lucas Pointud also faces a hearing. He is alleged to have struck the Bath Rugby prop, Nathan Catt, with his head in the 50th minute. The minimum punishment is six weeks should he be found guilty.
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Those two incidents were overshadowed by Freddie Burns’ error in the closing stages of the match.
Both Kaino and Pointud could now miss Sunday’s eagerly anticipated game against Champions Cup holders Leinster.
