Youyoutte, Azagoh and Pesenti suspended after Round 1 red cards

• RC Toulon back row Yannick Youyoutte (No 18) has been suspended for five weeks following the decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee arising from his club’s Investec Champions Cup Round 1 match against DHL Stormers at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday 7 December.

Youyoutte was sent off by the referee, Karl Dickson (England), in the 71st minute of the match for a dangerous tackle in contravention of Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 carries the following sanction entry points: Low-end – two weeks/matches; Mid-range – six weeks/matches; Top-end 10-52 weeks/matches

The independent Disciplinary Committee, Jennifer Donovan (Ireland, Chair), Christian Scotland-Williamson (England) and Valeriu Toma (Romania) heard the case via video conference on Wednesday. The player was in attendance and was represented by Cedric Rouhaud (RCT Legal Director), Laurent Emmanuelli (RCT Sporting Director) and Sophie Magdziak (RCT Lawyer).

Youyoutte accepted that he had committed an offence that warranted a red card and the Disciplinary Committee selected 10 weeks as the appropriate entry point. No aggravating factors were present and on the basis of the mitigation submitted on the player’s behalf, a five-week discount was applied to the entry point of 10 weeks. The player was therefore suspended for five weeks.

He will be free to play from Monday 13 January. However, if he participates in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, he will be free to play from Monday 6 January.

• Stade Français Paris lock Pierre-Henri Azagoh (No 4) has been suspended for three weeks following the decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee arising from his club’s Investec Champions Cup Round 1 match against Munster Rugby at Thomond Park on Saturday 7 December.

Azagoh was sent off by the referee, Luke Pearce (England), in the 49th minute of the match for a dangerous tackle in contravention of Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 carries the following sanction entry points: Low-end – two weeks/matches; Mid-range – six weeks/matches; Top-end 10-52 weeks/matches

The independent Disciplinary Committee, Ben Rutherford (Ireland, Chair), Leon Lloyd (England) and Stefan Terblanche (South Africa) heard the case via video conference on Tuesday. The player was in attendance and was represented by Thomas Lombard (Stade Francais Director-General) and Paul Gustard (Stade Francais Club Coach).

Azagoh accepted that he had committed an offence that warranted a red card and the Disciplinary Committee selected six weeks as the appropriate entry point. No aggravating factors were present and on the basis of the mitigation submitted on the player’s behalf, a three-week discount was applied to the entry point of six weeks. The player was therefore suspended for three weeks.

He will be free to play from Monday 30 December. However, if he participates in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, he will be free to play from Monday 23 December.

• Stade Français Paris lock Baptiste Pesenti (No 5) has been suspended for two weeks following the decision of an independent Disciplinary Committee arising from his club’s Investec Champions Cup Round 1 match against Munster Rugby at Thomond Park on Saturday 7 December.

Pesenti was sent off by Pearce, in the 53rd minute of the match for a dangerous tackle against Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey in contravention of Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.13 carries the following sanction entry points: Low-end – two weeks/matches; Mid-range – six weeks/matches; Top-end 10-52 weeks/matches

The Independent Disciplinary committee, Roddy MacLeod (Scotland, Chair), Ken Owens (Wales) and Gordon Black (Ireland) heard the case via video conference on Tuesday. The player was in attendance and was represented by Lombard and Laurent Labit (Stade Francais Head Coach).

The committee determined that Pesenti had tackled Casey in a dangerous and reckless manner that warranted a red card.

It was decided that the offending was at the low-end of World Rugby’s sanctions and two weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. The Disciplinary Committee did not consider that any aggravating factors were present but did not feel that any discount from the entry point sanction of two weeks could be applied due to the player’s prior disciplinary record. The player was therefore suspended for two weeks.

Pesenti is free to play on Monday 23 December.