Case Number:

ON/1268/25

Harvey Baker #13, Hull KR

Competition:

Scholarship

Match:

Hull KR v Castleford Tigers

Match Date:

2025-07-23

Incident:

Headbutt

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (a)

Headbutt- makes contact with the head

Grade E

Sanctions:

6+

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 31st July, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(a) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred at approx. 05 20 footage time of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you headbutted your opponent making contact with the head. 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 - Head butting – makes contact with head of opponent.

The normal suspension range for such offence is 36 Penalty Points plus (6 match suspension plus).
• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.

• Mr Baker was dismissed because of his actions.

• The touch judge report who saw Mr Baker’s action stated that, “Harvey played the ball, and the ball went right towards centre field. Harvey moved off the mark after playing the ball and headbutted the Castleford marker and made direct contact to the head.”

• The Match Review Panel can see on the footage the player headbutts his opponent making contact with the head.

• Grade E due to:
- Violent, unnecessary actions.
- Potential for injury. Area of concern for the game
- Violent act which brings the sport into disrepute and portrays the game in a negative light.

• Correspondence sent at the beginning of the season states that such offences would begin at 36 Penalty Points save any penalty Points being added or removed.

• Given the guilty plea from the player and that the player was dismissed in the first half, entitling him to 2 Penalty Points being removed from any subsequent sanction, the Match Review Panel submits that 34 Penalty Points is the appropriate sanction in this instance meaning the player will receive a 5-match suspension.

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

Player not in attendance, but guilty plea entered via e-mail from club.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The panel have watched the footage and listened to the submissions made by the Compliance Manager.

The panel agrees with the grading. The incident has been graded at Grade E due to its violent and unnecessary nature, with a clear potential for injury and bringing the game into disrepute.

The starting point for this charge is 36 penalty points. The panel note that two points can be deducted due to the players dismissal in the first half of the game. They also feel in this instance that an additional two points can be deducted to reflect the player’s guilty plea.

The player is therefore given 32 penalty points. This equates to a five match suspension.

Suspension:

5 matches