Through a press release, the EPCR confirmed this Sunday that Jonathan Sexton will be suspended for three games. If he will not be able to participate in the first preparation meetings of Ireland, the opener will be able to start the World Cup well.
The Irish staff must be relieved. On May 20, on the sidelines of the Champions Cup final lost by Leinster against La Rochelle on the lawn of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Jonathan Sexton had been talked about. While he was unable to take part in the match due to injury, the Irish international fly half behaved unkindly towards the refereeing body appointed for the final, led by South African Jaco Peyper.
The Leinster player would have yelled “You are a bitch… shameful” to the game director. Warned of these overflows, the EPCR seized its Independent Disciplinary Commission, which was able to hear Jonathan Sexton this Thursday but had reserved the verdict, which was to be announced “in the coming days”. The information finally fell this Sunday through a press release and Jonathan Sexton is now fixed.
Sexton will resume on August 27
EPCR has announced that the independent Disciplinary Committee comprising World Rugby Independent Judicial Panel Chairman Christopher Quinlan, former SANZAAR Judicial Panel Chairman Adam Casselden and former international player Marcello D’Orey has ordered a three-game suspension for Jonathan Sexton. Leinster, for its part, received a suspended fine of 7,500 pounds (8,750 euros). During his hearing, the Irish international admitted to having behaved incorrectly towards the referee and in particular to having yelled at him “It’s a shame that you can’t make the big decisions correctly”.
To this was added “most likely the word F…”. The commission ruled that Jonathan Sexton’s attitude “was grossly unsportsmanlike and brought discredit to rugby”. The suspension decided against the Irish player takes effect immediately and he will miss the preparation matches of the XV of Clover against Italy on August 5, England on August 19 and Samoa on August 26. In other words, Jonathan Sexton will be eligible again in time for the start of the World Cupon September 9 against Romania.
