Case Number:

ON/0761/26

Siliva Havili #13, London Broncos

Competition:

Championship

Match:

Doncaster v London Broncos

Match Date:

2026-04-26

Incident:

Match Official abuse

Decision:

Charge

Charge Detail:

Law 15.1 (g)

Disputes using any foul and abusive or aggressive language and/or body language

Grade D

Fine:

£250

Sanctions:

2 Match Suspension

Decision On Charge

Player plea:

Guilty but challenge the grading

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

Following a Match Review Panel meeting held on 30th April 2026, you are charged with misconduct for a breach of Law 15.1(g) during the above match.

The Panel reviewed an incident which occurred in approx. 22 20 of the above match. In the Panel’s opinion you have used foul and abusive language towards the Match Official as set out below:

Siliva Havili played the ball forward, as I walked to the mark for the turnover, he said "you're ******* joking" so I penalised him for dissent. He then said "you don't even know the ******* rules," so I sin binned him.

In the Panel’s opinion they believed your actions to be 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 D offence – Disputes using any foul and abusive or aggressive language and/or body language

The Penalty Points for such an offence is 12 Penalty Points.

In accordance with the On-Field Sentencing Guidelines, the Match Review Panel consider that this matter should be dealt with by way of a Penalty Notice. As such, the appropriate sanction is determined with reference to the number of Penalty Points you have accumulated in the previous 12 months.

Including the Penalty Points accrued for the above charge your total Penalty Points is 12. Accordingly, the Penalty Notice imposed on you is a 2-match suspension.

• Match Review Panel reviewed an incident in the above match.
• The referee sin binned Mr Havili following the incident.
• The referee’s report is stated below:
“Siliva Havili played the ball forward, as I walked to the mark for the turnover, he said "you're ******* joking" so I penalised him for dissent. He then said, "you don't even know the ******* rules" so I sin binned him.”
• The entry grading for disputes using any foul and abusive or aggressive language and/or body language towards a Match Official would be a Grade C.

• The principles of the On Field Sentencing Guidelines state that the disciplinary system must support and protect Match Officials.
• Mr Havili after getting penalised for dissent decides to then continue his abusive language towards the referee by using a demeaning sentence in front of a number of players seeking to belittle the referee.
• The Match Review Panel believe that taking the above into account this would necessitate a Grade D charge.

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

Player in attendance alongside Jason Demetriou (Head Coach) and Mike Eccles (Director of Rugby). Player pleads Guilty, but challenges the grading

JD explained that that SH accepted responsibility for his actions and had apologised to the Referee at half-time. However, SH disputed the exact wording reported by the Referee, claiming he did not say “you’re ******* joking” but instead asked “do you even know the rules?” in frustration, arguing this was a question rather than a personalised attack.

JD emphasised SH’s previously unblemished disciplinary record and argued that this context should be considered in the grading of the offence.

Decision:

Guilty plea

Decision On Sanction (where found to have committed Misconduct)

Reasons for Decision:

The Chair explained that the hearing concerned an incident on 26 April 2026 during the Championship match between London Broncos and Doncaster, where the player was sent to the sin-bin in the 22nd minute after being penalized for playing the ball forwards and subsequently making dissenting comments to the Referee.

The Tribunal reviewed the comments made by the player, as reported by referee Liam Rush, which included abusive language such as “you're ******* joking” and “you don't even know the ******* rules,” constituting foul and abusive language towards a Match Official under Rule 15.1 (g).

On behalf of the player, it was submitted that the player did not recall making the first comment but admitted to saying something similar to “****, do you even know the rules?”; the Tribunal found this distinction immaterial, as both comments challenged the Referee's authority and knowledge.

The Tribunal determined that the player used abusive language towards the Referee, was penalised and warned, but continued to swear at the Referee in front of other players, justifying the Match Review Panel's decision to elevate the penalty from Grade C to Grade D.

The Tribunal therefore feel the challenge is unsuccessful. The imposed 2 match suspension remains in place, and 5 penalty points will be added to the original 12 as per the consequences of a failed challenge.

The player will also be fined £250 and the club will lose the bond lodged to bring the challenge.

Suspension:

2 matches