Italian prop Luca Rizzoli has been given a nine-game suspension for what appears to be a bite on Cardiff Rugby front-row Rhys Carre.
The foul play occurred in the match between Cardiff Rugby and Zebre Parma last Friday night. It happened in the 79th minute of the game.
Carre got himself over the ball at the ruck with Rizzoli underneath him. They got into a scuffle after something provoked the Welsh international, who gave the Italian a big shove, holding him by the scruff of the neck. As he ran back toward his team mates, he could be seen shouting to the assistant referee on the sideline pointing to his arm.
The Citing Commissioner reported Rizzoli for an act of foul play related to Law 9.12 – 'A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee(s), stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking'.
Rizzoli, 21, accepted that he had committed an act of foul play and that it met the red card test. The Panel determined that the act of foul play was deliberate and intentional. A mid-range entry level for sanction was agreed upon leading to a suspension of 18 weeks, said a report from the URC.
Taking into account the player’s young age and inexperience, clean disciplinary record, his remorse and acceptance of his actions, the Panel allowed for maximum mitigation of 50% to reduce the suspension to nine weeks (games).
He will miss the rest of the URC season, Italy's World Cup warm-up matches as well as three of their four World Cup group games. He will be available for France v Italy on October 6th.
Rizzoli was part of Italy's recent Six Nations squad but didn't see any action.
Rizzoli is unavailable for the following fixtures:
- Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma, 15 April 2023 BKT URC
- Emirates Lions v Zebre Parma, 22 April, 2023 BKT URC
- Scotland v Italy, 29 July 2023 Pre RWC Test Match
- Ireland v Italy, 5 August 2023 Pre RWC Test Match
- Italy v Romania, 19 August 2023 Pre RWC Test Match
- Italy v Japan, 26 August 2023 Pre RWC Test Match
- Italy v Namibia, 9 September 2023 RWC
- Italy v Uruguay, 20 September 2023 RWC
- Italy v New Zealand, 29 September 2023 RWC
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