Jordie Barrett escapes sanction after red card decision overturned
Jordie Barrett was red-carded during the Perth game against Australia
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New Zealand fullback Jordie Barrett will be available for the remainder of the Rugby Championship tournament after his red-card sanction was dismissed.
The 24-year-old was sent-off in the 28th minute during the game last weekend for striking Wallabies wing Marika Koroibete on his face with the boot and faced an independent SANZAAR disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
The panel comprising of Robert Stelzner SC (Chairman), De Wet Barry and Jose Luis Rolandi deemed Barrett's act was unintentional and the Hurricanes star was cleared of breaching World Rugby Law 9.11 that deals with 'players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.'
“Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player, a medical report on the opposition player involved, and from two expert witnesses, and having considered the submissions from his legal representative, Stephen Cottrell, the judicial committee found that the player had not transgressed Rule 9.11 and had therefore not committed an act of foul play,” Stelzner, the judicial committee chair, said in a statement.
“He legitimately went up in the air to collect a high ball, when in trying to regain his balance on the downward trajectory, his boot inadvertently made contact with his opponent’s head.
“The accidental nature of the incident lead the judicial committee to find that there was no intentional nor reckless act of dangerous play, with the result that the red card is expunged from the player’s record.”
As a result, Barrett now will be available for selection in New Zealand's third round of the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Gold Coast on Sunday.
