Rugby World Cup: World Cup organisers show they are out of touch with Hodge ban
Reece Hodge got dudded, and if World Rugby follows through on and looks at every tackle made in the tournament - it will see the judicial rooms become as crowded as Tokyo’s subways, writes Julian Linden.
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There will be no-one left to play in the Rugby World Cup if the game’s hopelessly out-of- touch organisers apply the same rules to everyone else as they just did to Wallaby winger Reece Hodge.
But everyone knows that will never happen because plenty of other players have already got off scot-free after incidents that were much worse that Hodge’s clumsy tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato.
World Rugby deserves a lot of credit for trying to protect players from head injuries and the fact that Yato was concussed in his collision with Hodge is a real concern that warranted a closer look at the tackle.
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But the three week ban he received for what was an accidental first point of contact doesn’t even come close to fitting the crime.
But as the commissioners spelled out in their explanation, those are the rules that are in place now, and Hodge should be thanking his lucky stars he didn’t cop an even bigger suspension because the minimum penalty is actually six weeks after he ticked all the boxes for “an act of foul play.”
The three commissioners cut him some slack when they halved the ban because of his “exemplary disciplinary record, good character and conduct at the hearing”, but he will still miss Australia’s remaining pool matches against Wales, Uruguay and Georgia.
And, although he will be available for the quarterfinals, he may end up paying an even bigger penalty because there’s no guarantee he will automatically get picked because his position is one of the most competitive in the squad, with Dane Haylett-Petty likely to get first crack at it.
Speaking before Hodge’s ban was confirmed, Wallaby fullback Kurtley Beale said what everyone else who has played the game already know when he said Hodge had been courageous for throwing his body on the line time and time again to try and stop Fiji’s ferocious ball runners.
“As a player, you want your team-mate to play. Reece has done a fantastic job for us on the wing and, to his credit, he really threw himself into those tackles,” Beale said.
“He’s got no malice in going out there. He’s a great guy, he’s always trying to do the right thing, by the book.”
That’s one of the great appeals of rugby - the physical contest, and it’s been eroded all the time.
Is it any wonder people are turning away from the game in droves as players, coaches and fans all over the world are begging for an end to all the madness and a return to commonsense and recognition that rugby is a contact sport.
I'm all for the safety and welfare of rugby players. But 3 weeks for Reece Hodge tackle puts ALL @rugbyworldcup players on notice. #itsnottouchfooty @FOXRUGBY
— Tim Horan (@TimHoran12) September 25, 2019
“People are fearful of where does this end? Fox sports commentator Drew Mitchell asked.
“If Reece is three weeks then it’s fair to assume a number of people will be facing hearings.
“It’s a benchmark that I think they’ll look back and regret, when the biggest talking point out of this World Cup is refereeing decisions and sanctions.”
Reece isn’t the first player to cop a ludicrous ban like this - remember Israel Folau getting suspended for contesting a kick off - but the fact that it’s happened at the World Cup is an embarrassment to the game’s traditions.
It also raises fears that it has set a precedent which - if World Rugby follows through on and looks at every tackle made in the tournament - will see the judicial rooms become as crowded as Tokyo’s subways.
As two-time World Cup winning Wallaby and Fox sports commentator Tim Horan tweeted: I’m all for the safety and welfare of rugby players. But 3 weeks for Reece Hodge tackle puts ALL @rugbyworld cup players on notice.
Originally published as Rugby World Cup: World Cup organisers show they are out of touch with Hodge ban