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Ex-New Zealand 7s player cops ban for 'brutal' Morgan Parra gesture

George Tilsley (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

Former New Zealand 7s player George Tilsley has copped a hefty suspension for what a French disciplinary committee described as a brutal gesture towards Morgan Parra – stepping on his hand at a ruck – in a recent Top 14 match between Perpignan and Stade Francais.

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The midfielder/winger Tilsley clashed with Parra in the 68th minute of the January 28 match, an incident that resulted in the red-carding of the Perpignan player who is in his fourth season at the club following stints at Bordeaux and Agen.

That sending-off resulted in a midweek disciplinary hearing and a 12-game ban was initially proposed for Tilsley before it was reduced to seven, a sanction that will see the New Zealander requalify for Perpignan on April 24.

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A statement read: “George Tilsley was found responsible for ‘brutality’ and more particularly for ‘trampling or stepping on someone’. It is the higher degree of the scale of gravity which was retained, that is to say, a suspension of 12 weeks.

“After taking into account the mitigating circumstances (admission of guilt, driving before and during the hearing, no disciplinary record and expression of remorse), the sanction was reduced by five weeks. Consequently, Tilsley is suspended for seven weeks. As of February 8, and taking into account the Perpignan fixture schedule, Tilsley will be requalified on April 24.”

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The loss of Tilsley through suspension will be a heavy blow to Perpignan and their hopes of Top 14 survival. The soon-to-be 31-year-old utility back had started in 10 of his 14 French league appearances this season and scored four tries.

His club is involved in a relegation battle where they are currently bottom of the table following the loss of 11 of their 17 matches so far and Tilsley won’t be available again for selection until the early May game at Lyon.

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H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

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