US rugby star escapes with three-match ban for ‘glancing’ head stomp

US star Alev Kelter has escaped with a three-match ban for stamping on the head of Wallaroos centre Georgie Friedrichs after a World Rugby judicial panel ruled Kelter only made “glancing or grazing” blows to her face.

Australian rugby officials were left stunned by the lenient suspension handed down to Kelter, which began at the mandated entry point of six matches but was reduced by 50 per cent due to her remorse and clean record. It will ensure Kelter will be free to play for the US against the Wallaroos in a decisive Rugby World Cup pool match in York in August.

Kelter appeared before an independent disciplinary committee on Tuesday after being given a permanent red card in the 79th minute of the Wallaroos’ win over the USA in the Pacific Four series on Saturday in Canberra.

Kelter, a 29-cap centre who has also played at three Olympics, was tackled by Friedrichs and as the Wallaroo hung onto her left leg, Kelter stamped her right boot rapidly down five times. At least two strikes made contact with Friedrichs’ head and two more connected with her arms and upper body. The Wallaroo was lucky to escape without a serious facial injury.

Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron blew up play and, after reviewing the incident on the big screen, was quick to give Kelter her marching orders, saying it was dangerous foul play and “thuggery”.

Alev Kelter is challenged by Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu after being involved in a stomping incident.Credit: Getty Images

Other players in the past have attracted suspensions of between six and 12 weeks for head stomping, but an independent disciplinary committee of Michael Heron KC (New Zealand), Becky Essex (England) and Ofisa Tonu’u (New Zealand), determined Kelter’s foul play was only reckless, and the head contact was not deliberate.

In Kelter’s evidence, published by World Rugby in a written decision, the USA star said she was worried about a knee injury.

“As Georgie held on to my leg after breaking the tackle I heard “hold her up” from the opposition,” Kelter said. “Then, after being lifted into the air by other players joining the tackle, I was being held up and pulled in multiple directions, I felt a hard twist on my ankle and an extremely painful tweak in my knee.

“This created a lot of fear of tearing my ACL as my leg was trapped in an awkward position. As a result I wanted to immediately break free and unfortunately compounded the dangerous situation by driving my open leg to the ground to find stability in contact.

USA star Alev Kelter is sent off for stomping against Australia.Credit: Stan

“I was aware that Georgie was on the ground beneath me, but I could not see where Georgie’s head was and my foot must have made incidental contact with her head. My fear about my knee and the position that I was in that moment impacted my actions. I feel shame and remorse that my leg movement was reckless and I am relieved that Georgie was able to finish the game.”

A summary statement issued by World Rugby said: “There was contact with the head by the player’s boot. The player repeatedly stamped her foot and deliberately so but the Committee accepted the player’s evidence that she did not intend to contact the head.

“On careful review of the footage, and considering the player’s evidence and submission, the Committee found that the player was not deliberately targeting the head of the Australian player, but rather was reckless in her actions (as she accepted).

“The contact to the head was glancing or grazing rather than direct and targeted. The Committee was not satisfied that the player looked down and was aware she was contacting the head of the Australian player.”

Under World Rugby guidelines, any foul play involving the head has to begin at the mid-range level, which is six weeks for stamping, however Kelter’s ban was reduced to three weeks.

She will miss a Test match against New Zealand and two domestic competition games in the USA.

Kelter can appeal the suspension, but Rugby Australia cannot. Only World Rugby can challenge a suspension imposed by its independent judicial panellists, but rarely does.

US rugby star faces long ban for head-stomp ‘thuggery’

USA star Alev Kelter is facing a massive suspension after getting sent off for stamping on the head of Wallaroos centre Georgie Friedrichs on Saturday - and the act of “thuggery” could prove decisive in Australia’s bid to play in the finals of the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Kelter, a three-time Olympian in sevens and bronze medallist in Paris, was shown a permanent red card in the 79th minute of the Wallaroos’ 27-19 win at GIO Stadium in Canberra, in the second round of the Pacific Four tournament.

Georgina Friedrichs hanging on to the leg of Kelter, seconds before the stomping occured.Credit: Getty Images

The 29-cap centre was tackled by Friedrichs and as the Wallaroo hung onto her left leg, Kelter stamped her right boot down five times in a bid to get rid of the Australian defender.

At least two made contact with Friedrichs’ head and two more connected with her arms and upper body, but the Wallaroo was lucky to escape without a serious facial injury.

Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron immediately blew up play and after reviewing the incident on the big screen, was quick to give Kelter her marching orders - but elected not to use a 20-minute red card because of the deliberate foul play.

“Twelve blue (Kelter) is going to get a permanent red card,” Barrett-Theron said.

“Because this is thuggery, it is deliberate and it is very dangerous foul play. She’s clearly stamped on the head of the Australian player. That’s reckless, that’s dangerous and she’s going off.”

The stamping incident capped an ill-tempered night from Kelter, a former college ice hockey and soccer star, who was also involved in other skirmishes throughout the game.

Kelter was later said to be distraught but left USA coach Sione Fukofuka, a former Wallaroos assistant coach, to visit the Australian sheds to check on Friedrichs.

“I have only seen it once – it’s not nice for the game,” Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said post-match.

“I have already had the USA apologise and check on “GFred” (Friedrichs). So we will wait and they (World Rugby) will review it.”

World Rugby’s process mean Kelter must face a judicial panel within 48 hours of the incident. Friedrichs and match officials submitted statements after the game.

A sanction would be handed down (which can be appealed) but based on the “World Rugby Recommended Sanctions for Offences” and past incidents, Kelter is looking at least a six-match suspension, and easily 12 matches or more.

World Rugby guidelines say any foul play that involves the head must carry a “mid-range” sanction, which in the offence of stamping is six matches. But suspensions for head stamping offences over the past decade suggest Kelter could be looking at a “high-range” starting point of 12-plus matches.

Fijian prop Manasa Saulo in 2015 and Wales lock Ian Evans in 2014 both had initial suspensions of 16 weeks imposed for stamping on a rival’s head, which were reduced to 10 and 12 matches respectively with off-field factors such as a clean record, contrition and other factors.

In 2017, Stade Francais wing Josaia Raisuqe had a 12-match ban reduced to 10 and England stars Tom Wood (12 down to six matches in 2017) and Mike Brown also had a 12-match ban reduced to six in 2021.

Ashley Marsters of Australia scores one of her two tries.Credit: Getty Images

Anything more than a six-game suspension for Kelter would be a big blow for the USA and a boost for the Wallaroos given the two sides will play a winner-take-all pool clash in York in the Rugby World Cup, on August 31.

With both sides in pool A alongside powerhouse hosts England, the tournament favourites, it is highly likely the winner of the Australia-USA clash will finish second and proceed to the finals.

As one of the most senior and influential players in the USA, Kelter’s presence could be a make-or-break factor for the American side.

The USA play three more Tests before the Wallaroos’ pool fixture, but Kelter would probably seek to serve some of the suspension in matches of the newly formed Women’s Elite Rugby domestic competition, in the USA.

Her side, the Bay Breakers, have three season games left and potentially a fourth if they finish in the top two, and play in the grand final on June 29. The Breakers are fourth and a win outside the top two.

Yapp said the Wallaroos would take confidence from downing the USA in a strong performance in which Charlotte Caslick scored her first try, Ash Marters led a strong forward effort and Faitala Moleka turned in an influential kicking game at No.10.

But she said it was too far out from the World Cup to mean a great deal.

“Confidence-wise, it’s really important, but having said that, there’s a lot of rugby between now and the World Cup,” Yapp said.