Julien Dupuy, the Stade Francais Paris scrum half (No 9), appeared at an independent Disciplinary Hearing in Dublin today (Friday,18 December, 2009), as a result of a citing arising from the Heineken Cup Pool 4 match against Ulster Rugby at Ravenhill, Belfast, on Saturday, 12 December, 2009.
The citing lodged by the Citing Commissioner for the match, Tony Lanaway (England), was for alleged contact with the eye / eye area of Ulster player Stephen Ferris (No 6) in contravention of Law 10.4 (l).
After considering the evidence, the independent Judicial Officer, HH Judge Jeff Blackett (England), determined that Julien Dupuy 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)
The Judicial Officer found that it was at the top end in the level of seriousness for an offence of this type. Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors the independent Judicial Officer suspended the player for a period of 24 weeks running up to and including 3 June, 2010.
The full written decision of the independent Judicial Officer is now available on www.ercrugby.com/disciplinenews
Both parties have the right to appeal.
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
