CALLUM Gibbins could miss out on Glasgow Warriors’ crucial Champions Cup match with Sale Sharks on Saturday after being cited for an incident in his team’s 31-31 draw with Exeter last weekend. The openside flanker was shown a yellow card by referee Romain Poite for a clear-out on the Chiefs’ Jacques Vermeulen, and will now face a disciplinary committee in London tomorrow (Wednesday).
If the committee decides that Gibbins committed a low-end offence, the starting point is two weeks, so if mitigating factors are taken into account it is conceivable that he will not be banned. However, if he is deemed to have committed a mid-range or top-end offence, he could be banned for longer, possibly being unavailable during part or all of the Six Nations, the very time at which his leadership is most needed by Glasgow.
“EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Glasgow Warriors flanker, Callum Gibbins (No 7), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 5 match against the Exeter Chiefs at Scotsoun on Saturday, 11 January 2020,” a statement from the Champions Cup organisers read. “Gibbins is alleged to have committed an act of foul play in that he struck the Exeter Chiefs flanker, Jacques Vermeulen (No 7), with his shoulder in a dangerous manner in the 25th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12.
“Philippe Cavalieros (France), Chair, Donal Courtney (Ireland) and Antony Wheat (England), have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, 15 January) at the London office of Bird & Bird LLP. The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Eugene Ryan (Ireland).
“Law 9.12 Striking with the shoulder
Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.12 relating to striking with the shoulder carries the following sanction entry points – Low End: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 6 weeks; Top end: 10 to 52 weeks. ”