Ulster’s Afoa banned for Euro semi

The ERC have admitted John Afoa’s tackle on Felix Jones deserved a red card.

The announcement came after yesterday’s decision to ban the New Zealand prop for four weeks which means he will miss the Heineken Cup semi-final clash with Edinburgh.

Afoa had taken pride in his disciplinary record throughout his professional career; he had never received a single yellow or red card but fell foul of the citing commissioner following last week’s defeat of Munster at Thomond Park.

At a disciplinary hearing in Dublin yesterday, Afoa defended himself against an allegation that he carried a dangerous tackle on the Munster full-back Felix Jones during the second half of the match.

However, the independent judicial officer, Jean-Nöel Couraud (France), heard evidence and submissions from Afoa, who pleaded not guilty to foul play, and he upheld the complaint. He found that the offence warranted a red card by referee Romain Poite.

The officer determined the offence was at the mid-range entry point of six weeks. In reference to the IRB’s directive on this pattern of offending (tip tackles), he added a further week as a deterrent.

Having considered the mitigating factors, including the player’s clean record and good character, he allowed a reduction of three weeks.