ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Brive fly-half sent off for kick to the head in Top 14

BY Stephen Brunsdon  ·  Tuesday Nov 30, 2021

Brive slipped to a narrow 18-11 defeat away to Toulouse in the Top 14 last weekend, a match marred by an unfortunate incident which resulted in fly-half Enzo Hervé being red carded.

ADVERTISEMENT

Both sides were evenly matched during the game, with the scores 12-11 in favour of hosts Toulouse entering the final 15 minutes, when Hervé was dismissed for kicking the head of an opponent on the ground.

Toulouse had been attacking with ball in hand, when an unlucky sequence of events then took place, after winger Lucas Tauzin’s offload to scrum-half Baptiste Germain.

The loose ball bobbled before being secured by Germain on the floor, but Hervé had committed to hacking the ball forward in an attempt to counter.

WATCH: French second division player to face hearing after being sent off for kicking opponent in the head 

In trying to kick the ball, Hervé’s boot caught Germain’s head as the latter snaffled the ball back into his grasp.

World Rugby’s law application guidelines state that head contact with another player warrants a red card when the danger level is high and there is no mitigation involved, and while there may have been a case for mitigation in that the ball moved position by the time Hervé committed to kicking, neither the player nor Brive captain Matthieu Voisin had any complaints about the decision.

Referee Laurent Cardona accepted that Hervé showed no malicious intent and appeared to sympathise with the player.

He said: “Sure, the action was not deliberate but you took the risk of kicking the ball, and in this risk you collected the head of the player on the ground. So, in this situation I have no other option but to give you a red card.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Kicking a loose ball is such a common element of the game that it’s little wonder these incidents of head contact are not seen more often. Indeed, there are few similar incidents to draw from when it comes to determining what sort of punishment Hervé is likely to receive.

WATCH: Joe Marler could be in trouble again after appearing to kick an opponent in the head

Back in 2010, Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery got away with something similar against Alexis Palisson in a Six Nations match versus France. In that instance, few were convinced that Flannery was making a genuine attempt at kicking the ball, however.

Related Articles

  • 32 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji Drua player Lomani slapped with ban...

  • 42 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations...

  • 42 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans praise 'Dom Perignon Rugby' as Irish players prepare for final match of South African tour

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    South African school boy makes the greatest tackle ever

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    French scrumhalf drills perfect shot at goal under outrageous circumstances

View All

Funnies

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Mike Haley's post match interaction with RG Snyman leaves no doubt about where Munster players stand

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    The rugby guy and Mack Hansen drop an all time BANGER with latest video

View All

Amateur

  • 97 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 98 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 121 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    The 19-year-old named the 'future' of English rugby after win against Australia A

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Anthony Watson exclusive: 'I wouldn't be surprised if England win'

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    It’s a 9.5/10 for Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

View All