England’s Elliot Daly Banned Following Dangerous Challenge On Leonardo Senatore

Elliot Daly has been banned for three weeks following his red card against Argentina on Saturday.

The Wasps star took Puma’s back-row Leonardo Senatore out in the air while challenging for a high ball in England’s win on Saturday. While the challenge was clearly unintentional, referee Pascal Gauzere was left with no choice but to send off the winger after Senatore landed on his neck and head.

Earlier today, Daly appeared before an independent World Rugby Disciplinary Committee, with rugby’s governing body releasing the following statement following the hearing:

“Mr Daly accepted that he had committed an act of foul play and that it warranted a red card. Accordingly, the Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Kathrine Mackie (Scotland), alongside Derek Bevan (Wales) and Hugo Southwell (Scotland), considered what would be the appropriate sanction.

“Having viewed video footage of the incident, listened to evidence and representations from and on behalf of the player, and reviewed all of the other evidence, the Disciplinary Committee found that Mr Daly had acted recklessly  and that the offending merited a mid-range entry point based on World Rugby’s scale of seriousness, which carries a six-week playing suspension.

“The Disciplinary Committee further found that there were no aggravating factors and that there were a number of mitigating factors (including Mr Daly’s acknowledgement of wrongdoing, expression of remorse to the injured player and his good conduct at the hearing) such that his playing suspension be reduced by three weeks.”

Daly will therefore serve a ban of three weeks up to and including Sunday 18th December. The right decision?