After being shown a red card for headbutting Sale Sharks fullback Byron McGuigan, Thomas Ramos will be banned from playing for five weeks, an Independent Disciplinary Committee said in a statement.
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
According to
rule 9.12, “A player must not physically attack anyone.
Under World Rugby regulations, penalties for foul play in breach of Rule 9.12 - hitting with the head - have the following entry points – low grade: 6 weeks;
medium degree: 10 weeks;
higher degree: from 16 to 52 weeks.
Two penalties
The Toulouse player was also cited by the match's citing commissioner, Ed Kenny (Ireland), on suspicion of contact with the eyes or eye area of Sale Sharks scrum-half Gus Warr. in the 56th minute of the match, in breach of Rule 9.12.
The commission reviewed video footage of the incidents and took testimony from Ramos and Warr.
It also heard statements from Ramos' legal representative, Neil Robertson, Stade Toulousain head coach, Ugo Mola, Stade Toulousain high performance manager, Jérôme Cazalbou, and Liam McTiernan, Chief discipline of the EPCR.
Ramos accepted the decision regarding the red card, however, regarding the citation, he did not acknowledge touching Warr's eye area.
Regarding the citation, the Commission upheld the complaint, finding that Ramos intentionally touched Warr's eye area.
It determined that the breach fell within the medium grade of World Rugby's penalty schedule and therefore selected an entry point of eight weeks.
Since Ramos didn't admit to committing the breach, the Commission couldn't award him the 50% discount for mitigating circumstances.
She reduced the penalty by three weeks before imposing a five-week suspension.
The red card decision was also upheld, with the Commission finding that Ramos hit McGuigan with his head.
It determined that the offense fell within the low grade of World Rugby's penalty schedule and therefore selected an entry point of six weeks.
Taking into account the fact that Ramos pleaded guilty, the Commission reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a suspension of four weeks.
The Commission then decided that the two sanctions of five weeks and four weeks should be applied simultaneously.
Ramos will therefore be able to play again from Monday, January 23, 2023. Ramos and EPCR have the right to appeal both decisions.
