Premiership
Disciplinary Decision: Fraser Dingwall and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Fraser Dingwall and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto have been suspended for three and four weeks respectively following an independent Disciplinary Hearing.Both players were sent off during Northampton Saints’ Heineken Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.FRASER DINGWALLDingwall was sent off by referee Andrea Piardi in the 39th minute for tackling Stade Rochelais wing Dillyn Leyds in a dangerous manner, in contravention of Law 9.13.The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that in carrying out the tackle in a dangerous manner, Dingwall had made contact with Leyds’ head. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.As the player has a clear disciplinary record, and as there were no aggravating factors, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.Dingwall is free to play on Monday, 20 February due to Northampton Saints’ fixture schedule – however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 13 February. LUKHAN SALAKAIA-LOTOSalakaia-Loto was sent off by referee Andrea Piardi in the 81st minute of the match for striking Stade Rochelais back row Paul Boudehent in a dangerous manner, in contravention of Law 9.11.The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that Salakaia-Loto had been guilty of a ‘reckless act of foul play’. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.Due to the player’s good disciplinary record and acceptance of the red card, the committee reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.Salakaia-Loto is free to play on Monday, 27 February due to Northampton Saints’ fixture schedule – however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 20 February. Both players and EPCR have the right to appeal the decisions.
Fraser Dingwall and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto have been suspended for three and four weeks respectively following an independent Disciplinary Hearing.
Both players were sent off during Northampton Saints’ Heineken Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
FRASER DINGWALL
Dingwall was sent off by referee Andrea Piardi in the 39th minute for tackling Stade Rochelais wing Dillyn Leyds in a dangerous manner, in contravention of Law 9.13.
The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that in carrying out the tackle in a dangerous manner, Dingwall had made contact with Leyds’ head. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions, and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
As the player has a clear disciplinary record, and as there were no aggravating factors, it was decided to grant him the full 50% mitigation and the committee therefore reduced the sanction by three weeks before imposing a three-week suspension.
Dingwall is free to play on Monday, 20 February due to Northampton Saints’ fixture schedule – however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 13 February.
LUKHAN SALAKAIA-LOTO
Salakaia-Loto was sent off by referee Andrea Piardi in the 81st minute of the match for striking Stade Rochelais back row Paul Boudehent in a dangerous manner, in contravention of Law 9.11.
The committee upheld the red card decision, finding that Salakaia-Loto had been guilty of a ‘reckless act of foul play’. It then determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby’s sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.
Due to the player’s good disciplinary record and acceptance of the red card, the committee reduced the sanction by two weeks before imposing a four-week suspension.
Salakaia-Loto is free to play on Monday, 27 February due to Northampton Saints’ fixture schedule – however, if he applies for and successfully completes a World Rugby Coaching Intervention, he will be free to play on Monday, 20 February.
Both players and EPCR have the right to appeal the decisions.
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Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
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Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
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Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
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