A prominent rugby coach has been handed a two-week ban, with one week suspended, following an incident in which he questioned a medical professional’s decision regarding a player’s head injury during a recent match.
The coach, who was taking charge of his team for the first time, was found guilty of disrespecting the independent match day doctor’s ruling that a player required immediate removal from the game due to a head injury. The incident occurred when two players collided while attempting to tackle an opponent, resulting in one player being removed for a head injury assessment and subsequently standing down for 12 days.
The governing body’s disciplinary panel ruled that the coach’s actions constituted “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game” and imposed the two-week ban, with one week suspended until the end of the season. The panel acknowledged that there was a lack of clarity surrounding the decisions made regarding the head injuries, but emphasized that the independent match day doctor’s decisions must be respected.
The coach’s team has issued a statement expressing disappointment with the finding of disrespect, citing multiple witnesses who supported the coach’s version of events. The team also expressed frustration that the governing body issued a statement announcing the decision before providing the written judgment to the club.
The team reiterated its commitment to player safety and wellbeing, stating that it would never question the World Rugby HIA process when correctly implemented. The team is seeking clarification on the decision and reserves the right to appeal.
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