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Disciplinary hearing blow for Ireland U20s as two more players banned

Ireland celebrate a try in Paarl versus Australia (Photo by World Rugby via Getty Images)

Ireland have suffered a double blow at the Junior World Championship, starting back-rower James McNabney and replacement Rory Telfer both receiving three-match suspensions following disciplinary hearings in the wake of separate incidents in last Thursday’s pool win over Australia. 

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McNabney was cited for a high tackle in the 35th minute in Paarl, foul play that was missed at the time by the referee and the TMO. That occurred when Australia were ahead in the Pool B encounter and rather than have the forward sanctioned there and then and Ireland having to play the remaining 45 minutes with 14 players, Richie Murphy’s team played on with the full complement of players.  

They led 11-10 at the interval and were to ultimately win 30-10 in a game that did finish with them eventually reduced to 14 as Telfer was yellow-carded late on. That sin-binning was quickly upgraded to a red card offence when examined in the new 10-minute yellow card review window now allowed for by the TMO bunker.

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Ireland had come into their second match at the tournament having already picked up a red card versus England in their opener. Midfielder Hugh Cooney was sent off in that 34-all draw and banned for three games, a sanction that was reduced to two following his participation in the World Rugby coaching intervention programme.     

That same game-less facility will now be available for both McNabney and Telfer, meaning their respective three-game bans can also be reduced to two and ensure they will be available for selection in match day five at the tournament – a fixture that could potentially be the World Cup final if Ireland make it that far.    

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A disciplinary hearing statement read: “Ireland back row James McNabney appeared before an independent judicial committee on Saturday having been cited for a dangerous tackle (law 9.13). The independent disciplinary committee was chaired by Marcello d’Orey (Portugal), joined by former international players Olly Kohn (Wales) and Stefan Terblanche (South Africa). 

“The committee, having considered the player’s submissions and reviewed all available evidence, found that the red card threshold had been met and that the citing was upheld. The committee noted that the offence carries a mandatory mid-range sanction (six matches) and having considered the mitigating factors, reduced the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent. The final sanction is three matches as follows: 

  • Ireland vs Fiji – July 4
  • Ireland’s match in round four – July 9 
  • Ireland’s match in round five – 14 July* 

“The player intends to apply to take part in the World Rugby coaching intervention programme to substitute the final match of the sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play. 

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“Ireland replacement Rory Telfer also appeared before an independent judicial committee on Saturday having received a red card in Ireland’s Pool B match against Australia. The red card was awarded pursuant to law 9.13 (dangerous tackle). 

“The independent disciplinary committee was chaired by Marcello d’Orey (Portugal), joined by former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland) and former international referee Valeriu Toma (Romania). 

“The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offending warranted a red card. The committee noted that the offence carries a mandatory mid-range sanction (six matches) and having considered the mitigating factors, reduced the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent. The final sanction is three matches as follows: 

  • Ireland vs Fiji – July 4
  • Ireland’s match in round four – July 9
  • Ireland’s match in round five – 14 July* 

“The player intends to apply to take part in the World Rugby coaching intervention programme to substitute the final match of the sanction.” 

Elsewhere, Japan centre Yoshiki Omachi, who was red carded after charging into a ruck versus Wales in Stellenbosch last Thursday, was banned for one match and is unavailable to play against New Zealand next Tuesday.” 

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2 Comments
I
Ian 506 days ago

The Rory Telfer head to head was as clear a red as possible. Crazy running upright like that into an opponent. He's lucky to get a chance to play again in the tournament.

P
Poorfour 508 days ago

Three such incidents in two games suggests more than an individual discipline issue. Will we see more dangerous hits from Ireland as the tournament progresses? Not a good look for them or the game.

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JW 3 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.


Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').


LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.


For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.


He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?


As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

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