Alexandre Barozzi - red card and citing

In the same incident, Barozzi was also alleged to have to have struck Gray with his head. The citing complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Eddie Walsh (Ireland).

Judge Jeff Blackett (England) has been appointed as the independent Judicial Officer to hear both matters.

Law 10.4(a) Striking another player with a hand, arm or fist
Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure, Law 10.4(a), carries the following penalties: Lower End: 2 weeks; Mid Range: 5 weeks; Top End: 8+ to 52 weeks

Law 10.4(a) Striking another player with the head
Under the IRB Recommended Sanctions for Offences Committed within the Playing Enclosure, Law 10.4(a), carries the following penalties: Lower End: 4 weeks; Mid Range: 8 weeks; Top End: 12+ to 104 weeks

Notes to Editors

i)Red Cards
a) The case of any player sent off in the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup game shall be adjudicated by an independent Judicial Officer as soon as is practicable.
b) Until the hearing the player is ineligible to play in any tournament.

ii) Citing Commissioner
a) Citing Commissioners are appointed by ERC for all Heineken Cup and all televised Amlin Challenge Cup matches and shall be entitled to cite a Player for any act or acts of Foul Play that in the Citing Commissioner's opinion warranted a citing.
b) For such matches Clubs will not have the power to cite a player but may refer incidents to the Citing Commissioner within 24 hours of the conclusion of the match.
c) The Citing Commissioner will have 50 hours from the start of the game to make a citing. In exceptional circumstances this deadline can be extended.
d) The ERC Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor may forward the submitted Citing to a Citing Officer to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for the citing to progress.
e) The Disciplinary Officer will then bring a charge against the cited player.f) Until the citing hearing, a cited player is eligible to play in ERC tournaments.

iii) Disciplinary Hearing
a) The independent Judicial Officer is chosen by the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Professor Lorne Crerar.
b) ERC's Disciplinary Officer, Roger O'Connor, presents the case against the player.
c) Both parties to the hearing (ERC and the player) have the right to appeal decisions of the independent Disciplinary Hearing. Appeals must be lodged within 3 working days of receiving the full written decision of the independent Judicial Officer.
d) The full written decision of the independent Judicial Officer will be available on www.ercrugby.com/disciplinenews when the disciplinary process is complete
e) For IRB recommended sanctions for offences committed within the playing enclosure, Law 10.4(a), go to www.irb.com