World Rugby dismisses Andrew Porter's citing for high tackle

Ireland prop Andrew Porter has avoided a ban after the World Rugby has discussed the citing complaint for a high tackle.

Porter was cited by match citing commissioner James Sherriff after he was sin-binned during the third and deciding Test against the All Blacks for a high tackle on Brodie Retallick, who sustained a fractured cheekbone and is expected to be out of action for six weeks.

The Irish forward appeared through a video conference today with the disciplinary panel chaired by Adam Casselden SC (Australia), joined by former international player Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) and former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland).

The panel deemed Porter's action did not deem a red card and hence he was cleared of any suspension.

“The player admitted that he committed an act of foul play but maintained that the red card threshold had not been met and that the yellow card issued at the time by the match officials was correct in the circumstances,” a World Rugby statement reads.

“Having considered all the evidence, the independent committee applied World Rugby’s Head Contact Process and agreed with the match officials’ on-field decision that the player’s act of foul play for a breach of Law 9.13 did not meet the red card threshold due to the absorbing nature of the tackle.

“On that basis, the independent committee deemed the act of foul play did not merit further sanction, and the citing complaint was dismissed.”