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Georges-Henri Colombe banned for 'reckless act' versus Gloucester
By Liam Heagney
La Rochelle prop Georges-Henri Colombe has been banned following his ugly yellow-carded clearout on Gloucester’s Ruan Ackermann last Saturday in France. Pundits such as Austin Healey felt at the time that the incident merited a red card and it resulted in a citing for the front-rower.
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A midweek hearing has now decided to suspend Colombe for his team’s next four matches, starting with this Sunday’s quarter-final visit of Saracens to the French west coast. A statement read: “Stade Rochelais replacement prop Georges-Henri Colombe has been suspended for four weeks following an independent disciplinary hearing.
“Colombe was cited by match citing commissioner Beth Dickens (Scotland) for carrying out a dangerous clearout at a ruck on Gloucester back row Ruan Ackermann in the 68th minute in contravention of law 9.11.
“An independent disciplinary committee comprising Antony Davies (England, chair), Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Frank Hadden (Scotland) viewed footage of the incident and heard evidence by video conference from Colombe, who accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept that it warranted a red card.
“The committee also heard submissions from Stade Rochelais director of rugby Ronan O’Gara, from Stade Rochelais sporting director Robert Mohr, and from EPCR disciplinary officer Liam McTiernan. The club’s legal representative, Yves-Marie Feve, was also present during the hearing.
“The committee upheld the citing complaint, finding that Colombe had committed a reckless act of foul play. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
“Due to the player’s clear disciplinary record and his timely apology to Ackermann, the committee reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.
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“If Stade Rochelais qualify for a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final, Colombe will be free to play on Monday, May 1. However, if Stade Rochelais do not qualify for a semi-final, he will be free to play on Monday, May 8. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.”
