He risked up to 52 weeks. Mohamed Haouas will only be suspended for three weeks - he can replay on April 14 - as coach Fabien Galthié has just announced this Wednesday on RMC Sports. The pillar of the XV of France had abandoned his teammates in the fourth match of the Six Nations Tournament (29-17) just before the return to the locker room after having punched the Scottish player Jamie Ritchie. After having watched the sequence many times on the giant screen at Murrayfield stadium, the New Zealand match referee Paul Williams had kicked the player from Montpellier.
The management of the XV of France - including the manager Raphaël Ibanez who accompanied the player in London - hoped the leniency of the disciplinary commission of the Six Nations Tournament: Haouas (25 years, 4 selections) having no disciplinary history. The argument hit home. The three judges, who left to inflict six weeks on him, reduced their sentences by half. "The commission took into account mitigating factors (including good behavior, guilty pleas and relative inexperience at the international level)," said the Six Nations.
"He will be targeted"
After rejoicing in the leniency of the judges, the coach warned the Montpellier player who, like his partners in the XV, found his club sooner than expected after the cancellation of France-Ireland, scheduled for March 14, because of the coronavirus epidemic.
"He cannot afford to leave us at 14 for 55 minutes while we lead 7-6 and the match is close," agreed Galthié, still on RMC. He must remember this lesson. Because judgment is lenient, and sometimes when judgments are lenient, lessons are not learned well. But there I repeat, it must remember well, especially in the French championship. Especially since it will be a recognized player now, and it will be targeted. He will have to assume a status and he must stand. We will have to be strong in the head. "
On the other hand, the citation by France of a Scottish player, Nick Haining, guilty of contact with the eye area just before Haouas' blood stroke was not retained by the disciplinary committee.