Cooper's complex appeal dismissed
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:46
Quade Cooper: An excessive ban. (c) Gallo
A SANZAR appeals committee has dismissed an appeal by Australian flyhalf Quade Cooper against his two-week suspension.
The ban was imposed after the Australia versus South Africa Tri-Nations Test in Brisbane last Saturday.
Cooper had been suspended following a citing for a dangerous tip tackle in the 54th minute of the Test, which Australia won 30–13.
The appeals committee comprised of Peter Hobbs (New Zealand), Terry Willis (Australia) and Peter Ingwersen (South Africa).
The player's appeal was based on interpretations of the game's laws, their application in this case, and whether the subsequent penalty imposed was appropriate.
Appeals committee chairman Peter Hobbs said the committee considered the judicial officer's original decision, all the evidence put before him including the video footage, and the appeal submissions made on Cooper's behalf.
Hobbs said the arguments on Cooper's behalf were comprehensive and complex and required careful and thorough consideration of IRB Regulation 17, the laws of the game, and Cooper's grounds for appeal.
After a lengthy teleconference hearing, and deliberations, the committee dismissed the appeal.
Cooper's original suspension imposed by the judicial officer stands and he remains ineligible for selection for two weeks up to including Sunday, August 8.
He will miss Australia's back-to-back Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup double headers against the All Blacks - in Melbourne on Saturday and Christchurch a week later.
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