Case Number:

ON/048/25

Declan O’Donnell #29, Rochdale

Competition:

1895 Cup

Match:

Rochdale Hornets v Cornwall

Match Date:

2025-02-01

Incident:

Moving injured player

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Makes unnecessary contact with a Player who is or may
be injured.

Fine:

£75

Sanctions:

4+

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

Summary of CM's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 6th February, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(i) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at 01 28 10 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have unnecessarily lifted a player who appeared to be injured. In the Panel’s opinion this is serious misconduct, has the potential for serious injury and is against the spirit of the game.

In accordance with the RFL’s On Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Panel consider that such offence is a Grade E offence – Makes unnecessary contact with a Player who is or may be injured.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 4 matches plus.
• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr O Donnell makes contact with his opponent.

• The incident was placed on report.

• The reports stated the following:

Luke Nelmes runs the ball into Bradley Llewellyn who stays down on the ground behind the ruck. Declan O’Donnell then moves Bradley out of the way to collect the ball, but he stays down injured, so I stop play at the next tackle for him to be treated, then put Declan on report for moving an injured player.

• The opponent in a previous tackle has seemingly been injured following a collision with Mr O Donnell’s teammate. The opponent stays down after the incident.

• Mr O Donnell can see that the opponent is in apparent distress but none the less aggressively grabs a hold of his opponent and forcefully moves the opponent.

• It is not for any player in any circumstances to have physical contact with a player who may be injured. Injured players need treatment from appropriately trained medical staff to ensure that any injury is appropriately managed in the initial stages and is not made worse.
• Whether a player is in fact injured, and if so to what extent, is exclusively a matter for the assessment of the medical staff in conjunction with any necessary match official input.
• Contact, of whatever type/force, from another player upon a seemingly injured player has the potential for serious medical consequences for that injured player.
• In very limited circumstances a player may render immediate physical assistance to another player who is obviously seriously injured. This is not the case here. Mr O Donnell is in no way attempting to assist the injured player. His actions are in a purely negative manner.
• The incident was not part of play.
• This offence carries the highest possible grade of a Grade E. In this particular case, the MRP felt that the degree of force used, the fact that the opponent was potentially injured and the complete disregard for the opponent’s welfare and the negative and derogatory manner in which Mr O Donnell acted, is contrary to the true spirit of the game with such actions having no place on the Rugby League field of play.
• Information has previously been circulated with regards to this particular type of offence and players must be aware now of their responsibility in this area.

Summary of Player's submissions on the Charge / evidence:

Player in attendance alongside Gary Thornton (Head Coach). Player pleads guilty.

DO explained that he had heard the opponent laughing on the floor, which led him to believe the player was not injured and trying to slow the game down.

He felt that a 6-match suspension was too harsh, considering that the player was not injured and his actions were not intended to harm the opponent.

GT supported DO’s defence stating that the player was on all fours and not flat on the ground when DO moved him. He also felt that the game was frustrating and that DO’s actions were not overly aggressive.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal thank both sides for their submissions and they have carefully considered all the information.

They agree that DO’s actions were not aggressive or malicious, however, they were forceful. If the opponent had been injured DO’s actions could have caused significant damage.

It is not for a player to decide if an opponent is injured and making contact with a potentially injured player will always be dealt with severely.

The Tribunal give credit for DO’s guilty plea and have taken that into account when making their decision. However, the deliberate nature of DO’s decision to move the player necessitated a penalty.

The player is therefore suspended for five matches. He will also be fined £75.

Suspension:

5 matches