Scarlets flanker James Davies banned for three weeks
Wednesday 14 December 2016 18:40, UK
Scarlets flanker James Davies will serve a three week suspension for swearing and making an obscene gesture in the European Champions Cup clash with Toulon last Sunday an Independent Disciplinary Committee has ruled.
The 26-year-old, who served a previous ban in 2014, had his guilty plea and his remorse at the incident taken into account by the three-man tribunal after he was cited by the Match Citing Commissioner Steve Savage.
Davies, who won an Olympic silver medal with the Team GB sevens side in Rio this year, made the obscene gesture after he was warned by match referee Greg Garner over his language during the 31-20 defeat in France.
"As the player had served a previous ban in 2014, the Committee decided not to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 per cent, but taking into account Davies' guilty plea and timely expression of remorse, it decided to reduce the sanction by one week before imposing a suspension of three weeks," read the judgement of the committee.
"Davies is free to play on Monday, January 2, 2017."
The Scarlets, meanwhile, are conducting an internal investigation under their disciplinary procedure but they have confirmed the 26-year-old still has a future at Parc y Scarlets.
"What James did on Sunday was unacceptable and cannot be changed but his response to the incident and his sincere remorse for his actions shows that he still has a major part to play in the Scarlets rugby community in future," a club statement read.
"Whilst our internal disciplinary process may find further sanctions are appropriate, removing James from his rugby community through contract termination is not in anyone's interests."
Live European Rugby Champions Cup
Edinburgh centre Phil Burleigh, meanwhile, has received a one-week ban after being sent off during a European Challenge Cup tie against Stade Francais.
Burleigh was dismissed for striking Stade lock Pascal Pape, and an independent disciplinary commiteee, meeting in London, decided the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions.
Burleigh can play again from next Monday, meaning he will miss the Stade return clash in Paris on Thursday.
