England lock Courtney Lawes was banned for two World Cup games yesterday for kneeing Argentina’s Mario Ledesma, but escaped a stiffer sanction that could have ended his tournament.
Lawes, who pleaded not guilty to the offense committed during England’s hard-fought win in Dunedin, will miss England’s next two Pool B matches against Georgia and Romania, but he will be available for the last game against Scotland.
A disciplinary panel described the offense as “low-end,” declining to hand out a longer ban. Lawes, who receives the tournament’s first ban, has 48 hours to appeal the decision.
“With respect to the sanction, the offense was deemed to be low-end,” an International Rugby Board (IRB) statement said. “However, taking into account mitigating factors being his excellent disciplinary record and remorse, and the absence of aggravating factors, the player was suspended for two weeks [games].”
Video footage showed Lawes plowing into Ledesma knee-first after the hooker had already been tackled to the ground during England’s attritional 13-9 win on Saturday.
He was found guilty of “recklessly striking an opponent with his knee” after the IRB’s judicial officer viewed the footage from all angles and heard other evidence from Lawes and his counsel, Richard Smith.
England manager Martin Johnson, speaking at the squad’s Queenstown training base, told reporters: “Obviously it’s disappointing when you lose a player, but we do have cover there [at lock].”
“It’s a fast-moving game. He dived in to make what he thought was a try-saving tackle and we thought any contact with the knees was incidental,” Johnson said. “They [the hearing] saw it differently.”
Johnson added that it was too soon to say Lawes would appeal the verdict.
“We only just heard the news coming off the training ground. We’ll need to speak fully to the guys who were in Auckland,” he said, referring to the disciplinary hearing. “We are going to need to play players over the next three weeks, but it’s disappointing to have lost him.”
Lawes, 22, won his 11th cap against Argentina after missing this year’s Six Nations with a knee injury. Two weeks before last month’s final warm-up match against Wales, he was taken to hospital after a clash at a trial match.
The grueling physical nature of Saturday’s contest was underlined when Argentina’s Gonzalo Tiesi was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a knee injury and captain Felipe Contepomi was left with badly bruised ribs.
Lawes, speaking before the Argentina match, had emphasized the need to match the physicality of the Pumas.
“I don’t mind a scuffle every now and then. I just do it because I can and it gets under their skin,” said Lawes, who can also play flanker. “They’re going to be big and they’re going to be physical, that’s what they pride themselves on, but physicality’s part of my game as well.”
England continue their Pool B campaign against Georgia at Dunedin’s Otago Stadium on Sunday.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely