David Attoub Appeal

The independent Judicial Officer, HH Judge Jeff Blackett (England), found that David Attoub was guilty of foul play in contravention of Law 10.4 (l) in that he made contact with the eye / eye area of Ulster Rugby player Stephen Ferris (No 6) and that the offence was at the top end in the level of seriousness. Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors the independent Judicial Officer suspended the player for a period of 70 weeks running up to and including 22 April, 2011.

The Independent Appeal Committee will be appointed as soon as practicable.

Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure, contact with the eyes / eye area carries the following penalties:

Lower End: 12 weeks
Middle Range: 18 weeks
Top End: 24 weeks+
Maximum Sanction: 156 weeks

For a full list of IRB Recommended Sanctions please refer to ercrugby.com by pressing the following link:

http://www.ercrugby.com/images/content/cupstandard/IRB_Sanctions.pdf

NOTE

INDEPENDENT APPEAL COMMITTEE
a) Following a decision of an independent Disciplinary Hearing, both the Club / player and ERC have the right to appeal the decision of the Judicial Officer.
b) The initial independent Disciplinary Hearings are determined by an independent Judicial Officer. Appeal Hearings are determined by a three man independent Appeal Committee.
c) The independent Appeal Committee is chosen by the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
d) The independent Judicial Officer who issued the decision being challenged may not sit on the independent Appeal Committee.