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Several suspensions have been announced by the game’s governing body
England U20 international Seb Kelly has been hit with a six-match ban from World Rugby after a shocking incident saw him headbutt an opponent on the field of play.
The flanker was shown a permanent red card during the first-half of his side’s World Rugby Junior World Championship semi-final clash with South Africa on Monday, after being caught head-butting Junior Springboks full-back Luan Giliomee while the pair were on the floor following a tackle. Having been reduced to 14 men, England would go on to lose the game 53-37.
Kelly’s actions quickly received widespread condemnation from across the world of rugby, with fans describing the incident as “absolutely disgusting” and calling for the 20-year-old to be hit with a lengthy ban.
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After being summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee, the Sale Sharks back-rower has now discovered his fate, with World Rugby issuing him with a six-match ban from the game.
In a statement, the game’s governing body said: “In determining the sanction for Seb Kelly, the FPRC found that the player struck his opponent, who was on the ground in a vulnerable position, with his head.
“On that basis the FPRC decided that the red card was warranted and proposed a mid-range sanction (10 matches) and did not award full mitigation, resulting in a sanction of six matches. The player has accepted the sanction.”
Kelly will now miss England’s third-place play-off clash with New Zealand U20s on Saturday, as well as two Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures and three Sale FC games.
However, Gioliomee – who was also sent off for making contact in the air – has had his red card rescinded.
The judgements came as World Rugby handed out three other suspensions from across the Junior World Championship, with Wales U20s star Luke Evans also being hit with a ban after being shown a 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle against Australia on Saturday.
While Richard Whiffin’s side go in search of their best tournament finish since 2013 as they face Scotland in the fifth-place play-off final, they will do without Evans, after he was handed a three-match ban.
The Scarlets forward’s suspension will, however, be reduced to two games if he completes World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.
Elsewhere, Ireland U20s full-back Harry Waters has also been hit with a three-match for “recklessly charg[ing] his opponent with a high degree of danger, making direct forceful contact with his head [and] knocking him to the ground”.
USA prop Alfie Booth has, meanwhile, been suspended for two matches for making direct shoulder to head contact with an opponent during his side’s defeat to Japan. Like Evans and Waters, his suspension will be reduced by one game following completion of World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme.
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