Case Number:

ON/907/25

Cameron Brown #20, Whitehaven

Competition:

League One

Match:

Midlands Hurricanes v Whitehaven

Match Date:

2025-05-25

Incident:

Lifting an injured player

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (i)

Other Contrary Behaviour

Grade E

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 29th May 2025, 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 approx.01 03 30 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have contacted your opponent in the head and neck and then made unnecessary contact with your opponent who was or may have been injured. The Panel believe your actions were serious misconduct and 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 – Other Contrary Behaviour.

The starting suspension range for such an offence is 36 points plus (6 matches plus).
• MRP were concerned at the manner in which Mr Brown makes contact with his opponent on two separate occasions.

• The incident was placed on report.

• The reports stated the following:

Midlands were attacking and playing out wide as a Midlands player passed the ball he was tackled high by the Whitehaven no20 I had the penalty for this but wanted to carry on due to Midlands still playing on so once the tackle was complete I blew the penalty for the tackle during this time a few players were telling me that the Whitehaven player had lifted the tackled man when he was on the floor due to the nature of this I placed the incident on report.

• The opponent his contacted in the head by Mr Brown. The opponent stays down after the incident.

• Mr Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown acted, is contrary to the true spirit of the game with such actions having no place on the Rugby League field of play.
• The Match Review Panel have grouped the head contact and making unnecessary contact with a player who may be injured as one charge under ‘Other Contrary Behaviour’.
• 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 not in attendance. Guilty plea entered via e-mail from club.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Summary of CM's submissions on the appropriate sanction:

The Compliance Manager explained that the MRP had determined the Head Contact was worthy of a Grade B offence and carried 3 penalty points. Whilst the lifting of the injured player would carry a minimum of 36 penalty points, totalling 39 penalty points.

Reasons for Decision:

The Tribunal noted the plea of guilt entered by the club on behalf of the player.

They were in agreement on the sanction of 39 penalty points, which would in turn lead to the player receiving a 7-match suspension.

The player is also fined the standard £75 for offences at this level.

Suspension:

7 matches