UPDATE: Manu Tuilagi citing dismissed
UPDATE: Manu Tuilagi’s citing has been dismissed by RFU judicial officer Christopher Quinlan QC in Bristol. The result means that Tuilagi will be free to tour South Africa with England.
England and Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi had been cited for a tip tackle on Danny Care from the opening minutes Saturday’s Aviva Premiership Final.
The RFU have released a statement saying:
MANUSAMOA TUILAGI of Leicester Tigers has been cited for a ‘tip tackle’ on Harlequins’ Danny Care during the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 27.
Tuilagi has been charged with a breach of Law 10.4 (j) following a report by the citing officer John Byett and will appear at the Bristol Filton Holiday Inn on Tuesday, May 29 (8pm). The case will be heard by a single RFU judicial officer, Christopher Quinlan QC.
The minimum entry level for tip tackle offences is three weeks, with 10 week bans given in the more serious cases as with Bradley Davies earlier in the season. Tuilagi has previous after receiving a five week ban for punching Chris Ashton in last year’s Aviva Premiership Final, tarnishing his record. A three week ban would be enough to rule him out of the tour to South Africa as he would miss both the 1st and 2nd tests.
How long should Tuilagi be banned for? You can watch the incident here.
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Not remotely dangerous. He’s got him around the midriff, anyone with a basic knowledge of physics would realise a tip tackle from that position is basically impossible. His feet may have been above his head very briefly but he was brought safely down to earth horizontally.
It seems rare these days for someone to be cited retrospectively and not get a ban so wouldn’t be surprised if he gets one but would be a joke if he does.
I agree Stuart (and with the general comments regarding this citing), especially after barnes comments “legs above horizontal, but not dangerous.” Given that the ref clearly saw it and commented on it, that shuold be the end of it. That in my mind should be taken into account today and no more done, except for the IRB to go back and look at what is actually a ‘dangerous’ tackle.
So when Henson tackled Tait and legs went above horizontal but not dangerous he should have been cited? No it was a great tackle, a powerful man stopping a less powerful one in his tracks, same with Tuilagi on Care in my opinion.
I wonder if Alesana’s move away is impacting his morale, can’t be easy as he came over to live with his brothers and they seem like such a tight family unit. Not relevant to the point I know but I hope we can see him doing what he does best this summer, busting tackles and smashing people, not stuck at home because of a harsh ban.
Citing dismissed. A victory for common sense!!
Should never have been cited in the first place, adequately dealt with at the time by Wayne Barnes.
& that will be enough to worry the Saffas the way England are playing.