A sad, bad story concludes
Eti Haungatau, the USA centre, has been suspended for five matches by a disciplinary committee. She had been cited after receiving a yellow card for a tackle on Robyn Wilkins, the Wales No 10.
After reviewing all the evidence the independent committee of three deemed the tackle to come within the bounds of ‘extremely dangerous’, considered first the maximum punishment of ten games, then reduced it to five. Haungatau admitted she had committed an act of foul play, but did not think it worthy of a red card.
The effect of the ban is to remove the player completely from WXV2, the first withdrawal not caused simply by injury. In addition she will miss the first two games played by her club, Sale Sharks.
Implications
Wilkins was immediately withdrawn from the game for an HIA and did not return. We have still to learn the severity of her injuries.
The case calls into question the referee’s management of the incident. Clara Munarini (Italy) allowed play to continue, and Wales scored a try straight after.
The TMO brought the incident to Munarini’s attention. When she and her ARs reviewed it on screen, she decided the tackle was worth only a yellow card, given the low position Wilkins was in on contact.
The committee decided otherwise – ‘a reckless act’.
The outcome of the case means that Munarini not only let play continue after the tackle, but, once her attention had been drawn to it, deemed it worthy only of a 10-minute ban. She is appointed to officiate at WXV2 matches this month. We will discover what view the referees’ committee takes on the events in Colwyn Bay.
The case is yet further proof of the need for much more precise definitions of what actions deserve a yellow or a red card. I expressed my interim views on 3 October (http://4theloveofsport.co.uk/2023/10/03/more-urgent-card-problems/).
