Force to appeal Cummins' two-week ban - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Force to appeal Cummins' two-week ban

28/03/2010 07:23:53 PM Comments (0)

Western Force rugby officials will appeal against a two-week suspension handed out to their winger Nick Cummins for a dangerous tackle on Bulls back Jacques-Louis Potgieter.

At a hearing in the Rugby WA offices in Perth on Sunday, SANZAR judicial officer Campbell Thomson determined Cummins' action in the 71st minute of the game won 28-15 by the Bulls was a "tipping tackle".

"In this instance, Cummins lifted and dropped the Bulls player to the ground with no regard for his safety," Thomson said in a statement.

The Force back lifted Potgieter past the horizontal in the tackle and failed to subsequently support the Bulls back by helping to break his fall as he fell to the ground.

Referee Nathan Pearce penalised Cummins at the time, but SANZAR citing commissioner Scott Nowland described the offence as worthy of a red card and Thomson ruled the tackle warranted further censure by way of suspension.

"Potgieter was unable to break his fall as he was turned in a tackle with his legs in the air and his back facing the ground," Nowland said in his charge sheet.

"At the result of the tackle, Potgieter was placed at serious risk of injury to his spinal area."

Force general manager of rugby Mitch Hardy said his organisation looked forward to presenting their case in the coming week.

"We strongly feel that there wasn't any wilful intent or otherwise on the part of Nick to lift and drop the player," said Hardy, who attended the hearing along with Cummins and Force coach John Mitchell.

"We have to do what we feel is right for Nick and the team and we'll take it further to ensure the outcome is in line with happened in the game and by precedents set in other SANZAR cases," Hardy said.

"Sanctions should be in line across all provinces and as recently as round two this season Chiefs No. 8 Sione Lauaki was found guilty of a tipping tackle and received two weeks.

"Nick has received the same sanction despite the judicial officer hearing our case today admitting the Lauaki tackle was more severe."

Cummins was playing just his third game of the season since returning from a foot ligament injury he suffered at a Wallabies training camp last October.

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