McCloskey Banned For Four Weeks
Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey appeared today before an independent PRO12 Rugby disciplinary committee following his red card during the second half of the province’s win over Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield last Friday.
Stuart McCloskey was sent-off and then cited for lifting of an opponent to a vertical position in the process of clearing him from a ruck.
The disciplinary committee, chaired by Simon Thomas, along with Rhian Williams and Aurwel Morgan (all from Wales), having listened to representations by and on behalf of the player, viewed TV footage of the incident and asked questions of the referee, found that McCloskey had committed an act of foul play worthy of the red card and considered it to be at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions for this type of offence, carrying an entry-point of four weeks.
The committee added one week to reflect the need for a deterrent for this type of offence but reduced it by one week having noted the player’s previous unblemished record, among other mitigating factors.
McCloskey is suspended from playing for four weeks until midnight on Sunday, March 29, taking into account a ‘down’ week and has the right of appeal.
Law 10.4(j): Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.