The Red Card disciplinary process for Marshall Sykes of Edinburgh Rugby was heard by a Judicial Officer after he was sent off in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 16 game against Zebre Parma on Friday, April 22.
The incident occurred in the 44th minute of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 16 fixture at The DAM Health Stadium.
The Player received a Red Card under Law 9.20b – A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.
The Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process, Rhian Williams (Wales) determined that the Player’s actions met the threshold of a Red Card and that the act of foul play warranted a sanction. Ms. Williams determined the entry point be mid-range which carried a suspension of six (6) weeks. However, considering the Player accepted that the act of foul play warranted a Red Card, has a clean previous record, his exemplary behaviour during the process these considerations entitled him to full (50 per cent) mitigation.
The Player has been banned for a period of three games. He will be suspended until May 15 if Edinburgh reach EPCR semifinal or until May 22 if they do not.
Fixtures Marshall Sykes is unavailable for:
Edinburgh v Ulster (April 30) VURC
Edinburgh v Wasps (May 7) EPCR
EPCR Semi Finals (May 13/14/15) OR Edinburgh v Glasgow (May 21) VURC