Some neck.
Pascal Papé, or whoever is advising the French lock, has decided it would be a good idea if he were to appeal the 10-week ban he got for a back-breaking foul on Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip.
To recap, Papé was yellow-carded in France’s 18-11 loss to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. The incident earned him a citing and an independent disciplinary commission – having considered the evidence and statements from both players, and the referee – handed down a 15-week ban.
That ban was then reduced to 10 weeks due to Papé’s willingness to fall on his sword and admit wrongdoing. A cordial Twitter exchange between the lock and Heaslip must have helped matters too.
Heaslip is rehabbing with the Irish squad and may make the Scottish game, on the final weekend of the tournament. Papé has accepted his Six Nations is over. However, he wants to get back playing with Stade Francais as soon as possible.
Hence, this Six Nations statement of a Papé ban appeal: ‘It is on the grounds that the 10-week suspension was excessive and disproportionate.
‘The hearing for Pascal Papé, before an independent Six Nations Appeal Committee, will be held in London next week.’
‘Excessive and disproportionate’. Papé’s knee to Heaslip’s back – a quite deliberate act – fractured three of the Irishman’s vertebrae. As this English rugby journalist tweeted:
Just my view but a clearly conscious decision to knee Heaslip in the back could happily have been 100 weeks for me, let alone 10.
— Nick Heath (@rugbymedia) February 27, 2015
While a sizeable proportion of rugby coverage is currently focused on concussion, reckless clear-outs at rucks, mauls, and in choke tackle situations, is equally dangerous. This incident happened in the Under-20 match between England and Ireland last night:
The disciplinary committee have hopefully set a precedent by handing down a hefty ban to Papé. It was a shame 15 weeks was reduced to 10 thanks, in part, to some friendly tweets.
However, if the ban is reduced any more it will simply serve to let the next generation of players, like England’s James Chisholm, that endangering your fellow players is part and parcel of the game.
